Report: Wexford Youths 1 - 1 Longford Town
Credit:
This was a game that supporters of both sides will want to forget. An uneventful contest played in miserable conditions in the not so sunny south east. Only goal difference had separated these two teams going into this game, the visitors lay in fifth place in the table thanks to scoring more goals than their hosts. In the end nothing could separate the two teams.
Wexford Youths side were looking for their third win on the trot and were unchanged from the side that defeated Athlone Town last weekend. Longford Town manager Aaron Callaghan made just one change from the team that defeated Monaghan Utd 3-0 at home last Saturday night. Ronan Frawley returned to the heart of defence, with Newtonforbes' Stephen Brennan dropping to the bench.
It was a unique game and an evening of firsts. It was the first time that these two sides had met and the first time the Town have played in Ferrycarrig Park. Longford controlled the early part of the game but failed to really create many clear cut chances. Alan Lynch did well up front and was ably assisted by Iarfhlaith Davoren and Gary Murphy who were lively in the opening exchanges.
Murphy had a half chance in the 22nd minute but the Wexford keeper Jason Russell committed himself well to get down while one minute later Iarfhlaith Davoren headed over. As half-time approached the home side began to come into the game. In the 35th minute Kyle Dempsey brought a great save out of Shay Kelly but one minute later they got their equaliser. Richie Fitzgerald picked up the ball on the wing and cut inside, the Town defence seemed to back off him and he drilled a low shot past Kelly.
The opening twenty minutes of the second half were drab just like the weather but in the 70th minute Gavin Doyle tested the reflexes of Town keeper Shay Kelly with a powerful shot and two minutes later the home side found themselves down to 10 men, substitute Joey Wadding sent off for bringing down Town substitute Adrian Cregg. The visitors had been dealt a blow less than 10 minutes after the restart when right back Ryan O'Donnell had to go off injured. He was replaced by former Galway Utd player Adrian Cregg with Luke Hardy slotting in at right back in O'Donnell's place.
Nine minutes from time Town captain Daire Doyle had a good chance to grab his side's second goal. Davoren did well to pull the ball back to Doyle but his effort was deflected out for a corner. Town substitute Dean Barrett had a change to wrap up the points in stoppage time but Wexford keeper Russell got down well to stop Barrett.
Wexford Youths: Jason Russell; Stuart Lawlor, Garrett Larkin, Tomas Hawkins (Joe Wadding 46), Conor Sinnott, Martin Kelly, Gavin Doyle, Anto Russell, Kyle Dempsey, Patsy Malone, Richie Fitzgerald.
Subs not used: Ricky Fox, Danny Furlong, Craig McGuire, Paul Rossiter.
Sent Off: Wadding (72).
Longford Town: Seamus Kelly; Ryan O'Donnell (Adrian Cregg 59), Alan O'Riordan (Ryan Casey 46), Ronan Frawley, Andy Bermingham; Luke Hardy, Gary Murphy, Daire Doyle, Iarfhlaith Davoren; Alan Lynch, Brian Kelly (Dean Barrett 87).
Subs not used: Stephen Brennan, Neal Gallagher.
Referee: Phil Caschera (Kildare).
Attendance: 624
