Big boost for Longford Town in excellent away win against Bray Wanderers

Bray Wanderers . . . 0  Longford Town . . . 1

The vital stroke of luck that has deserted Longford Town for most of the season eventually worked in their favour as substitute Adam Wixted struck to score a late, late winning goal against Bray Wanderers in a dramatic finish at the Carlisle Grounds on Thursday night last. 

Just when it seemed that the game was going to end scoreless, a left wing cross from another replacement Francis Campbell broke kindly into the path of Wixted who found the back of the net from close range in the 89th minute.
Featuring a number of new signings in the July transfer window, Longford Town collected all three league points in this excellent result in what was the first away win in the current campaign.
It was a big boost in the battle to move away from the bottom of the First Division table and a significant lift in morale for the Longford manager Wayne Groves.
Debutants Eric Christopher Yoro (signed from Bolton Wanderers) and Daniel Norris (from UCD) started at the Carlisle Grounds with the other loan newcomers Emre Topçu (Drogheda United), Chris Lotefa (Bohemians) and Carl Lennox (Shamrock Rovers) all making the bench.
The Town are back in action away to arch rivals Athlone in the eagerly awaited midlands derby this Friday (kick-off 7.45pm) in the bid to gain some more momentum during the rest of the season.
There are 13 league games left to play along with the FAI Cup second round tie against Premier Division opponents Galway United at Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday July 19.

Longford new face Daniel Norris registered the first strike of the contest against Bray who had snatched a last gasp draw in the previous meeting between the clubs at the Carlisle Grounds back in March with Thomas Morgan scoring the equaliser in the 10th minute of stoppage time.
Norris struck a free-kick but it was an uncomplicated save for Bray keeper Stephen McGuinness.
A lethal attack should have produced the opening goal for the home side on 26 minutes. Bray had some defending to do as they cleared a Longford corner. Harry Groome picked up the clearance before delivering a pass down the left channel for Callum Thompson.

Thompson looked up to see Freddie Turley charging unmarked down the heart of the pitch and screaming for the pass. Thompson’s effort would prove to be slightly off the mark though as it evaded both Turley and the out-rushing Longford netminder Jack Brady who very happily watched it trickle wide. Any touch from Turley would surely have made it 1-0.

Disallowed offside goals from Peter Grogan (Bray) and Town striker Jordan Adeyemo were talking points in the first half which was a rather uninspiring 45 minutes of football.

Grogan had the chance to get the second half kick-started. He latched on to a long ball but couldn’t quite get his touch right and he was smothered out. The ball then broke for Craven and Viktor Serdeniuk threw himself in the way to make a fine block.
Longford then spurned a fine chance when they found themselves on the right side of a 3 v 2 situation. The pass from Norris was slightly behind Adeyemo which slowed things down and he went for glory; firing into the side netting from the right channel.

By the time the clock had dragged to the 75th minute, Groome teed up Almirall and his powerful drive from inside the area required Brady to make a vital save.

The all-important only goal was created by the substitutes with Emmanuel James directing the ball out wide for Francis Campbell who forced his way past a Bray defender and sent in a cross. Wixted got lucky with his touch but there was no luck with his second chance as he drilled home from eight yards.

BRAY WANDERERS: Stephen McGuinness; Max Murphy, Killian Cantwell, Zach Nolan, Kieran Cruise; Callum Thompson, Freddie Turley, Harry Groome, Guillermo Almirall; Darren Craven; Peter Grogan.

Subs:- Thomas Morgan for Craven (64 mins); Conor Knight for Thompson (64 mins); Billy O’Neill for Almirall (89 mins).

LONGFORD TOWN: Jack Brady; Shane Elworthy, Viktor Serdeniuk, Dean O’Shea, Kyle O’Connor; Ross Fay, Bastien Hery; Daniel Norris, Eric Yoro, Mohammed Boudiaf; Jordan Adeyemo.

Subs:- Jordon Tallon for Hery (70 mins); Karl Chambers for Boudiaf (70 mins); Adam Wixted for Norris (80 mins); Emmanuel James for Adeyemo (80 mins); Francis Campbell for Yoro (80 mins).

Not used:- Jack McCarthy, Emre Topcu, Chris Lotefa, Carl Lennox.

Referee: Jason Moore.