Aaron Doran strikes twice as Longford Town score an excellent win away to Wexford FC

After picking up just a single point from their previous two league games in the away defeat against UCD and the home draw with Athlone, resolute Longford Town got back on track in their quest for a place in the First Division promotion play-offs.

Wexford FC . . . 1     Longford Town . . . 2

The excellent win over Wexford at Ferrycarrig Park on Friday night was a timely boost for the manager Wayne Groves and his team with a goal from Aaron Doran in the 29th minute of the first half the decisive factor.

Wexford were the architects of their own downfall. Robbie McCourt played the ball back to Paul Martin and his poor, hurried pass was seized upon by Aaron Doran, with the Longford attacker keeping his cool to pick his spot in the back of the net. 

The visitors had to survive an anxious moment when a Wexford shot created a goalmouth scramble in the 54th minute but the danger was cleared and Pharell Manuel then had a great opportunity to extend the lead but he shot over the bar in the 62nd minute.   

Wexford keeper Martin produced a fine save to keep out a strike from Dean Williams in the 64th minute but the Town eventually scored a second goal to clinch a precious victory.

Impressive matchwinner Doran capitalised on poor Wexford defending to find the back of the net for the second time in the 81st minute and he almost completed his hat-trick from a shot that drifted just off target in the 84th minute.

Longford had all three points in the bag after Alex O’Brien tigerishly won the ball back. Andy Paraschiv picked up possession, drove forward and played a clever pass to the overlapping Doran, who fired a shot to the roof of the net.

Wexford battled it out to the bitter end and were rewarded with a late, late consolation goal from a penalty converted by Jake Doyle in the third minute of additional time. 

Stephen Elliott’s side went into the game having won five on the trot in Ferrycarrig Park, with the winning sequence beginning when they edged out Treaty United 3-2 at the end of March.

Since then, they have beaten Bray Wanderers, Athlone Town, Cobh Ramblers and Finn Harps, but Longford Town were in no mood to be added to the list of victims as they came away with the win. 

 It was a very positive result for the young Longford side in a boost for their confidence ahead of the serious test against the league leaders Cork City in the next fixture at Bishopsgate on Saturday May 16th.

WEXFORD FC:  Paul Martin; Ryan Butler, Dylan Hand, Robbie McCourt, Kaylem Harnett; Zayd Abada, Adam Verdon; Jamie Wynne, Gavin Hodgins, Mikie Rowe (capt.); Jake Doyle.

 Subs:– Jack Larkin for Abada (half-time), Calum Flynn for Butler (65), Ryan Ritchie for Hodgins (65), Kian Dignam for Harnett, inj. (81), Liam Shuntaro Doyle for Rowe (81).

LONGFORD TOWN: Kian Moore; Osaze Irhue, Cole Omorehiomwan, Taylor McCarthy, Jake Hough; Sultan Adenekan, Alex O’Brien; Pharrell Manuel, Aaron Doran, Andy Paraschiv; Dean Williams. 

Subs:- Francis Campbell for Williams, inj. (71), Daniel McKenna for Irhue, inj. (88).