No joy for Longford Town as UCD come out on top

UCD . . . 1    Longford Town . . . 0 

Rock bottom Longford Town suffered another defeat in the Airtricity League First Division with Jake Doyle scoring the crucial only goal at the Belfield Bowl on Friday night. 

The alert Doyle punished a defensive mistake to hit the target as the deadlock was broken in the 33rd minute with confident UCD stretching their impressive unbeaten run to nine games to consolidate second spot in the table behind the commanding league leaders Cork City.

Longford caretaker manager Wayne Groves made four changes from the team that started in the home defeat against Wexford FC the previous week with Viktor Serdeniuk, Conor Crowley, Bastien Hery and Adam Wixted all coming in to feature on the first eleven against the students.  

The unfortunate Wixted was forced to retire in the 37th minute after sustaining a suspected arm injury and he was replaced by Mohammed Boudiaf.  

UCD were leading 1-0 at that stage of the game, watched by a sparse attendance in the region of 250 spectators. A cross from Luke O’Regan caught out the Town defence with Jake Doyle availing of the opportunity to find the back of the net.

And it could have got even worse for winless Longford as UCD created a few other chances before the break with the dangerman Doyle blasting a close range strike over the bar.  

Town keeper Jack Brady then came to the rescue when he produced a fine point-blank save to prevent Hugh Parker from scoring a killer second goal for the home side. 

Francis Campbell had a scoring chance for the visitors but his effort was saved by the UCD keeper Kian Moore and the midlanders tried hard to get back into contention in the second half. 

Jordan Adeyemo had the best chance to equalise just before the hour mark but he shot wide and UCD stuck it out to collect all three points with substitute Ciaran Behan going close for the students from a close range header. 

Luckless Longford Town are back in action against second from the bottom Kerry FC at Bishopsgate on the Bank Holiday Monday (kick-off 5pm) and maybe that elusive first win in the league this season will finally materialise!   

UCD: Kian Moore; Eanna Clancy, Niall Holohan, Luke O'Regan, Adam Wells; Sean Brennan, Donal Higgins, Mikey McCullagh; Jake Doyle, Hugh Parker, Michael Raggett. 

Sub:- Ciaran Behan for Raggett (61 mins).

LONGFORD TOWN: Jack Brady; Shane Elworthy, Kyle O'Connor, Viktor Serdeniuk, Luke Wade Slater; Conor Crowley, Ross Fay, Bastien Hery, Adam Wixted; Jordan Adeyemo, Francis Campbell. 

Subs:- Mohammed Boudiaf for Wixted (injured, 37 mins); Samuel Clarke for Hery (73 mins); Emmanuel James for Fay and Callum Bonner for Campbell (both in the 83rd minute).

Referee: Aaron O’Dowd.