Great win away against Bray as Longford Town maintain impressive form

Longford Town are still in contention to finish in fifth place in the First Division following a great win against Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle grounds on Friday night with Dean George and Stefan Ugbesia scoring the crucial goals

Bray Wanderers . . . 0   Longford Town . . . 2

While the chances of snatching the last of the promotion play-off places are extremely slim despite the last gasp draw for Treaty United away to Kerry, Wexford FC are serious contenders with three league fixtures remaining.

The Town head for the Markets Field on Friday next facing a must win match against Treaty who are currently six points ahead of the midlanders with a vastly superior goals difference and just a single point in front of Wexford with the Southern clubs clashing in the final round at Ferrycarrig Park.

Longford’s other fixtures are at home to Cobh Ramblers and away to Athlone and it looks like the late run of positive results are not going to be enough but the manager Wayne Groves and his revitalised  players will keep going until the end.  

The Town followed up last week’s excellent win over the league leaders Dundalk with a fine victory at the Carlisle Grounds.

It was the first time this season that Longford picked up points over the Wicklow side; they had lost their previous three fixtures. They were full value for their win against 3rd place Bray. It’s only Town’s second away win of the season. The last came in June when they won 1-0 in Wexford.

Dean George scored his second goal in two games when he opened the scoring for the Town in the 31st minute. Substitute Stefan Ugbesia sealed the win for the midlanders with his third league goal of the season in the 77th minute.

It was a quiet opening 20 minutes. Town keeper Kian Moore pulled off a great save to tip Billy O’Neill’s shot over the bar in the 24th minute. Town had plenty of possession but didn’t test Bray netminder Jimmy Corcoran.

Corcoran had to pick the ball out of the net in the 31st minute; Pharrell Manuel played the ball to Aaron Doran and his cross was excellently headed home by George to give Longford the lead. Minutes later Moore saved from Conor Knight as Bray tried to get back on level terms. 

Just before the break the visitors had a chance to double their advantage but Sean Moore’s header just went wide of the post.

It was no surprise that Bray came out for the second half with a real purpose. Head Coach Paul Heffernan made a number of changes as his side tried to get back into the game but Longford  held firm and were resolute.

In the 71st minute George had a chance to get his and the Town’s second goal but his cross came off the post. Minutes later Longford got their second goal through Ugbesia. A wayward pass from the home side fell nicely to Ugbesia, he raced through before firing to the net. It was no more than they deserved.

It was now a tough battle for Bray to get anything out of the game. Town defended extremely well and every player played their part in trying to maintain the lead. As the clock ticked down Bray couldn’t muster up too many opportunities to test Town keeper Moore as his team moved up to 7th in the table.

BRAY WANDERERS: Jimmy Corcoran; Killian Cantwell, Ben Fagbemi, Harvey Warren, Cian Curtis; Alain Kizenga; Conor Knight, Cian Doyle; Justin Ferizaj; Rhys Knight, Billy O’Neill.

Subs used: Jamie Duggan for Fagbemi (61 mins), Richard Ferizaj for Curtis (62 mins), Cristiano Bramley for R Knight and Guillermo Almirall for C Knight (71 mins), Flynn Ryan for Doyle (83 mins).

LONGFORD TOWN: Kian Moore; Eric Yoro, Oisin Hand, Jamie Egan, Osaze Irhue; Alex O’Brien, Sean Moore; Aaron Doran, Pharrell Manuel; Dean George, Kyle Robinson.

Subs used: Stefan Ugbesia for Robinson and Eric Topcu for Egan (61 mins), Danny Norris for George (75 mins). 

Referee: Oliver Moran (Dublin).