Barren spell ended as Longford Town finally score their first win of the season

Longford Town . . . 2   Kerry FC  . . . 1 

A frustrating barren spell has ended as Longford Town finally scored their first win of the season in the Airtricity League after defeating Kerry FC in the bottom of the table clash at Bishopsgate on the Bank Holiday Monday. 

 First half goals in quick succession from Francis Campbell and Luke Wade-Slater clinched a badly needed three points for the midlanders who failed to win any of their previous 12 league fixtures with a game in hand to come at home to Treaty United on Monday night next, kick-off 7.45pm. 

Before that first meeting this season against the Limerick club, the Town - under the guidance of caretaker manager Wayne Groves - travel to Ballybofey on Friday to face faltering Finn Harps (kick-off 7.45pm).  

The opening quarter-hour against Kerry FC produced only one chance which fell the way of the visitors. A long throw-in from the right from Samuel Aladesanusi was headed wide by the off-balance striker Victor Udeze.

Longford Town dominated the rest of the first half and were deservedly 2-0 ahead at the interval. The first goal came on twenty-two minutes when Conor Crowley’s corner from the left picked out Wade-Slater at the back post and his header across the face of the goalmouth was finished to the back of the Kerry net from a close range Campbell header. 

Four minutes later, the Town doubled their advantage from a similar situation as another Crowley corner from the left yielded the crucial second goal from a Wade-Slater diving header.

It was almost a hat-trick of assists from Crowley as his 33rd minute left-wing corner was headed just over the Kerry bar by Town centre-back Dean O’Shea.

Longford had a great chance to make it three on fifty-one minutes when a pin-point pass from the impressive Wade-Slater put in Jordan Adeyemo but his fifteen-yard shot from the right whistled over the Kerry bar.

Kerry substitutes Okwute and Kelliher combined to brilliantly bring the Munster side back into the contest on 70 minutes. 

Okwute received the ball on the right wing and his cross was superbly brought under control by Kelliher with his first touch before the striker delivered a stunning overhead kick that flew past Town keeper Jack Brady into the top corner of the net.

Kerry were on top at this stage and on eighty-three minutes they almost got back on level terms. McGrath was put through on goal but his strike was superbly blocked by Town defender O’Shea.

It’s a case of lucky thirteen for Longford Town as they registered their first league win of the season but they still remain at the foot of the First Division table, two points behind fellow strugglers Kerry.

Longford Town (4-4-1-1): Brady, Elworthy, Serdeniuk, O’Shea, O’Connor, Wade Slater, Crowley, Fay, Boudiaf, Campbell, Adeyemo.

Subs:- Clarke for Campbell (74 mins), James for Adeyemo, Tallon for Fay (both 87 mins), Priosti for Boudiaf (stoppage time).

Kerry FC (4-3-2-1): Tuta, Kavanagh, Kos, Aladesanusi, Williams, McCarthy, Rramani, Gleeson, Amechi, McGrath, Udeze.

Subs:- Kelliher for Udeze, Okwute for Gleeson (both 29 mins), O’Connell for Kavanagh, Dolia for Amechi (both half-time), Healy for McCarthy (57 mins).

Referee: Ryan Maher.