Longford Town FC • Official Website
Tiernan Dolan captured the action from our 3-0 win over Wexford FC at City Calling Stadium.
It was also a night to reconnect with old friends and new visitors to the City Calling Stadium.
Longford Town got their promotion push back on track with a comfortable three-nil victory over Wexford FC at the City Calling Stadium to move within a point of fourth placed Shelbourne, and to within three points of third placed Finn Harps. After a scoreless first-half, a second-half brace from McGlade and another second-half goal from Noack-Hofmann who deflected home an O’Reilly strike gave the ‘Red and Black’ all three valuable points.
The Town had the first chance of the contest after just three minutes when a superb Elworthy ball over the top of the Wexford defence released Verdon down the right, he cut inside and fired a low, diagonal shot that just whistled inches wide of the far post.
Wexford almost found the Town net in the sixth minute when an arching George header at the back post was brilliantly palmed away by Town stopper Kelly.
Danny O’Reilly tried his luck on sixteen minutes with a long range strike that was only just too high, and although the Town dominated possession for the rest of the half and created several half chances, Wexford keeper Chambers endured no danger until the forty-third minute. Chambers cleverly created space for himself down the right and his perfectly weighted cross picked out Verdon but his header was saved by Chambers.
The Town got off to the perfect start to the second half when they took the lead within a minute of the resumption. Verdon raced into the box on the right and his low cross deflected off a Wexford defender into the path of McGlade and he drilled home the opening goal.
On fifty minutes, Danny O’Reilly nearly doubled the Town’s advantage with a twenty yard half-volley that went narrowly wide after shaving the post.
Longford should have gone two-up on fifty-six minutes when a Chambers cross bounced off the chest of Wexford defender Cahill and landed at the feet of unmarked Town striker Dillon just ten yards out from goal, but he somehow blazed well over when he should have scored.
However, Dillon made amends just three minutes later when his battling tenacity from a McGlade free-kick helped him to set up O’Reilly whose shot from just inside the box, defected off Noack-Hofmann into the net to put Longford two goals clear.
It got even better for the home side on sixty-six minutes when Elworthy’s excellent cross was guided to the net from close range by McGlade for his second off the night and the Town’s third.
Jamie Doyle should have made it four shortly afterwards but he shot straight at Chambers in a one-on-one situation.
Town keeper Kelly easily saved a twenty-five yard curling effort from Wexford’s Masood on eighty-five minutes, and the home side cruised home to secure a well deserved triumph.
Next up for Neale Fenn’s charges is a mouthwatering trip to Tolka Park next Friday to take on promotion rivals Shelbourne.
Longford Town: Kelly, McDonnell, Noack-Hofmann, O’Reilly, Dervin, Elworthy, Hollywood, Chambers, Verdon, Dillon, McGlade.
Substitutions: Doyle for Dillon (65 minutes), Ryan for Chambers (71 minutes),
Wexford FC: Chambers, McCarten, Cahill, Kelly, Morgan, Masood, Byrne, Sutton, O’Connor, George, Nugent.
Substitutions: Smithers for O’Connor (61 minutes), O’Reilly for Kelly (77 minutes)
Longford Town aim to bounce back from two successive league defeats when they host Wexford FC at the City Calling Stadium on Saturday night at 7.30pm.
Longford Town had built momentum for a title charge when they followed up their one-nil victory at home to Drogheda with a mesmerising 5-1 triumph away to league leaders UCD at the Bowl in their first game back after the summer break. However, a 2-1 home loss to Cobh and last week’s demoralising 3-0 defeat away to Harps has seen Neale Fenn’s charges drop to sixth in the table and their title ambitions ended as they are now in a dogfight to secure a play-off berth.
The visitors to the City Calling Stadium have struggled this season and are currently managerless after having parted company with previous boss Damian Locke. Wexford are second bottom in the table with 15 points, while sixth place Longford have 32 points and are 3 points behind Shels who are in the final play-off spot.
As well as losing their last two league matches, Longford also exited the Leinster Senior Cup on Monday night last suffering a 2-1 defeat at home to Shelbourne. Before losing 3-0 last weekend at home to leaders UCD, the Slaneysiders had taken seven points out of a possible nine in their previous three league outings. They held Galway to a 0-0 draw at Ferrycarrig Park before recording back-to-back victories away to Athlone (1-0) as well as an impressive 2-1 triumph away to Cabinteely.
Longford Town have the upper hand on Wexford FC this season winning both league meetings to date. In their first clash at the City Calling Stadium, the ‘Red & Back’ ran out 3-0 winners, as a brace from Mulhall and a goal from McGlade sealed the three points, and the Town also won the encounter at Ferrycarrig Park 2-0 as Hollywood and Mulhall found the Wexford net.
A victory is an absolute must for the home side to get their promotion push back on track and if they play to their potential, then a victory will be achieved, however, the Town’s inconsistency this season, especially in games that they are expected to win, means that Wexford are more than capable of leaving the City Calling Stadium with a point.
Speaking to Andrew Dempsey for LTFC.ie, new signing Dean Dillon said ‘We know that we need to win the game if we are to get back into the promotion race. The game is even more important now especially after our last two games in the league. I personally think that Wexford are going to sit in against us so it’s going to be another tough game. We need to go about our business and be patient about it. We will play the way that we normally do and it’s vital that we win it like all the rest of our games between now and the end of the season.”
On the team news front, both Shane Elworthy and Sam Verdon should recover from their knocks from Monday night’s Leinster Cup game but definitely out are Alan Kehoe, Peter Hopkins, and Dean Byrne, while Chris Mulhall is rated doubtful.
Longford Town continued their run of form with a comfortable 2-0 win over Wexford FC at Ferrycarring Park on Friday night. In front of a disappointing crowd of 70 or so, Neale Fenn’s men dispatched the challenge of the former Youths with a goal in each half from Jamie Hollywood and Chris Mulhall.
It was Wexford who had the opening chance of the game, Shane Barnes latching on to a cross from the right side and shooting inside the box but his effort was deflected by Town Captain Dean Zambra who had raced back to cover.
Longford looked to open their account on 11 minutes when forward Chris Mulhall held up the ball brilliantly even when it appeared he was fouled, to then turn on to his right foot and shoot but his attempt was wide of the mark.
De Town had the majority of possession throughout the entirety of the 90 minutes and it wasn’t long before they got the opener. A corner kick from Darren Meenan on 19 minutes was hit high across the box to the waiting Jamie Hollywood who took it down expertly on his right foot and blasted the ball into the top corner with his left foot from just inside the box.
Wexford never got going after that and Longford began to control the game. Dylan McGlade swung in a high ball that troubled Wexford Keeper Kealan Gaffney which forced him to punch clear even though there was no Town players around him at the time. This was followed up by another attack from McGlade, this time going by two men and feigning a shot before eventually turning on to his left but his powerful strike only stung the hands of Gaffney in goal.
Half time saw the introduction of Evan Galvin for Darren Meenan and his impact was immediate. Gaining possession on the left wing, Galvin beat one man before laying it off to Tristan Noack-Hofmann who’s shot was straight into the hands of Gaffney.
Jamie Hollywood scores the opener for Longford Town during their 2-0 victory over Wexford FC. Pic: Ken Keenan Photography
Longford got their second on 55 minutes when a corner was headed across goal by Town defender Michael McDonnell to Noack-Hofmann who in turned headed it towards goal and then it was just a simple header into the net for Chris Mulhall. Although Gaffney pushed it back out, the ref was in clear view and blew his whistle for the goal, much to the delight of Mulhall who made sure everyone knew the goal was his and not Sam Verdons who had tapped in the rebound.
Town had a chance to make it 3-0 on 78 minutes when a scoffed clearance from Wexford keeper Gaffney landed at Evan Galvins feet. The Cork man tried to lob the scrambling Gaffney but Owen McCormack had raced back to cover the line and consequently cleared the ball.
Dean Byrne went close in the closing moments when he cut inside on the right wing but his low shot was saved by the outstretched foot of Gaffney.
While the result was never in doubt, Longford never really stepped into 3rd gear and will be looking for an even bigger performance against Shelbourne at the City Calling Stadium next week.
Wexford FC: Kealan Gaffney, Sean Hurley, Ross Kenny (C), Owen McCormack, Mikey Byrne, Mark Slater (subbed: George), Thomas Croke, Liam McCartan (subbed: Doyle), Shane Barnes, Ryan Nolan (subbed: Kelly), AJ Lehane
Subs: Collum Feeney, Sean Kelly, John Morgan, Danny Doyle, Dean George, Dean Kelly, Aaron Dobbs.
Longford Town: Michael Kelly, Tristan Noack-Hofmann, Shane Elworthy, Michael McDonnell, Daniel O’Reilly, Dean Zambra (C), Dylan McGlade, Jamie Hollywood (subbed: Ryan), Darren Meenan (subbed: Galvin), Sam Verdon, Chris Mulhall (subbed: Byrne)
Subs: Jack Brady, Evan Galvin, Daniel Ridge, Jackson Ryan, Dean Byrne, Adam O’Connor, Karl Chambers