A win over Wexford FC a good opportunity for Longford Town at Bishopsgate

Longford Town play Wexford for the last time this season at Bishopsgate on Saturday night, kick-off 7.30pm.

Wexford, like the Town, are battling to pick up vital points in an effort to get away from the bottom end of the table and hope to get enough points to chase fifth position. 

After last weekend’s games the bottom of the table has Longford in 9th place on 28 points.

Kerry, by virtue of their victory over the Town on Friday last, are also on 28 points but goal difference puts them in 8th place. 

Wexford are in 7th place on 30 points and Finn Harps after 2 recent victories are on 31 points. 

With eight games remaining the Town must try to get enough results to move up the table and in doing so get into the contention for the remaining play-off spot. 

 It’s hard to believe that against Shamrock Rovers’ star studded team the Town gave a superb performance and it took two penalties to beat our lads in the FAI Cup.

A week later and basically the same team travelled to Kerry but a repeat  performance didn’t materialise in Tralee.

If the Town played like they did against Shamrock Rovers there is no doubt that the result from Kerry would be different. 

It’s now up to everybody to go out and win next Saturday night’s big game for the club. There is no doubt that Wexford will be a very tough task as they ran Bray very close and by all accounts they could have stolen all three points from the game. 

Wexford have a very useful squad of players and they are now being managed by former Republic of Ireland player Stephen Elliott. 

Elliott has lots of experience in the game having been capped nine times for the Republic of Ireland and played with Manchester City, Sunderland and Wolves. Before joining Wexford he was with St Patrick’s Athletic academy and he is a believer in bringing through good young players but he knows that will take some time but he says he is there for the long run. Wexford made a new signing recently to bolster their defence. Evan Osam, son of Republic of Ireland under 17s manager Paul, has joined and he should give them lots of stability at the back where they also have Robbie McCourt at centre half and he has lots of experience.

There is one very familiar face in the Wexford squad and that is Aaron Dobbs who is a very accomplished striker who over the years has scored many vital goals for his team. Aaron scored some vital goals for Longford Town when he was here. 

Mikie Rowe, who wasn’t in the starting eleven for Wexford at the weekend, is a player who can turn a game for his club as he has a great eye for goal. 

After last weekend’s games Wexford are two points ahead of the Town and a win is needed to push us ahead of them and hopefully keep up our chase for 5th position. 

The Town played Wexford three times already this season and have won two and lost one against them. The first meeting was in Wexford in early April and on that occasion they beat the Town 3-1. Calum Flynn gave them the lead on 44 minutes but the Town struck back eleven minutes later when Mohammed Boudiaf scored the equaliser. Darragh Levingston put the home side two one up in 66 mins and Mikie Rowe added goal number 3 into injury time. 

The Town had Wexford as visitors in early May and on that occasion Longford won 2-1. Daragh Murtagh opened the scoring on 63 minutes but Kelly equalised eleven minutes later. 

Emmanuel James, not for the first time this season scored in additional time to give the Town a deserved victory. 

The last meeting between the clubs was near the end of June in Wexford and on that occasion the Town won 1-0. The crucial goal came from midfielder Emre Topcu after only six minutes and the Town held out for a marvellous victory. 

Wexford met Shamrock Rovers in the second round of the FAI Cup this year and Rovers beat them 4-0. 

The Town manager Wayne Groves has assembled a good panel of players after a shaky start and we will be looking for some outstanding results in the remaining weeks of this year’s league campaign with the backing of big support.

 SSE Airtricity League First Division 

Longford Town v Wexford FC

Saturday 30 August

At Bishopsgate

Kick-off 7.30pm