Longford Town facing tough task away to the table toppers Cork City

Longford Town make the long journey to Turner's Cross on Friday in a tough task against the table toppers Cork City, kick-off 7.45pm. 

Cork have been at the top of the table for most of the season and they are nine points ahead of UCD and surprise packets Athlone Town.

 Cork are one of the best supported clubs in the League and when they are doing well they can fill the Turner's Cross Stadium. 

Being relegated again last season was tough to take for the soccer mad city but they are well on their way back to the promised land of the Premier Division.

 In recent weeks Cork have dropped some disappointing points as they drew 1-1 at home to Treaty United.

They lost 1-0 against promotion chasing Athlone Town and also drew against UCD with the match in Cork finishing scoreless.

Tim Clancy is the man in the hot seat as Cork chase a speedy return to the top flight and he has the experience to get his team back in the Premier Division at the end of the season. 

The current Cork City side is full of many experienced players and all seem to be on the same wavelength as manager Clancy. 

The teams have met on two occasions this season and Cork have the bragging rights at the moment.

 The Town were at home on April 9 to Cork where goals from McLaughlin and former Town player Jack Doherty saw Cork win 2-0. 

The second game between the clubs at Bishopsgate was decided by a marvellous display of attacking football that saw Cork run out 4-1 victors. 

Jordan Adeyemo opened the scoring for the Town but two goals each from Charlie Lyons and captain Cian Coleman clinched Cork a well deserved victory. 

Cork are nine points ahead of UCD and Athlone Town who are on 31 points, Finn Harps are on 29 points while fast improving Bray are 5th in the push for the promotion play-off places. 

Cork may be struggling for form at the moment but they have the squad to deal with all the other teams for the rest of the season. 

The Town had a weekend to remember for all the wrong reasons. On Friday last they travelled to Limerick to play Treaty United but the home side got the all important only goal in the 82nd minute to come out on top.

Longford need to plan for the future and start bringing in some talented young lads from the underage teams. The Town's injury list is so bad that this is a sign for new players to come in during the July transfer window. 

Looking at the overall squad at the moment there were nine players missing on Monday last against Wexford for many different reasons. 

Jamie Egan, Oisin Hand, Ross Fay, Luke Wade Slater, Viktor Serdeniuk, Chris Lyons, Adam Wixted, Aaron Walsh and Dean George were all out but there is no doubt that the manager Wayne Groves is planning for the future with his new look team. 

Any team who would have so many players unavailable due to injury would be struggling. 

Last Monday's result against Wexford must be a sickener for the Town players who let a 2-0 lead slip in having to settle for a draw in the end.  

We will have to learn from our mistakes and we now have to pick up the pieces as the team make the long journey to Cork. 

Thanks again to our marvellous supporters who continue to support the team through thick and thin.

 The recent return of Karl Chambers after injury is a boost for the management who will be looking for more players returning soon.

There are a lot of disappointed supporters around but there have been a few good results since Groves took charge.