League Report: Longford Town 0 - 2 Bray Wanderers

Deniese O’Flaherty reports from Bishopsgate

Former Longford Town fan favourite Gary Shaw came back to haunt his former club as his first half brace secured all three points for Bray and inflicted a first league defeat of the season on the Town.

It was a solid performance from the visitors who started the game well but for the home side it was an extremely poor display.

They created very few goalscoring chances with Bray keeper Brian Maher not having to make a real save of note throughout the game.

The visitors broke the deadlock in the fourth minute when Dylan Barrett’s corner was headed home by Gary Shaw.

Town’s first effort on goal came in the 14th minute but Dylan Grimes’ free was headed wide by James English. In the 17th minute Town keeper Lee Steacy pulled off an excellent save to deny Shaw.

Minutes later Shaw was to beat Steacy again when he got his and his side’s second of the game; Joe Doyle’s cross met the head of Shaw at the near post and he made no mistake.

Town’s best chance of the opening half didn’t come until the 32nd minute when Dylan Grimes’ free was just headed over by Mick McDonnell.

As the first half came to a close Bray pressed for a third with Town defender Dylan Hand having to direct the ball out twice for corners after some good play by the lively Callum Thompson.

Chances were at a premium in the second half. James English should’ve done better with his header in the 69th minute while Bray defender Killian Cantwell did well to block down Sam Verdon’s shot two minutes later.

Town huffed and puffed but they couldn’t get anything from the game.

Longford Town: Lee Steacy; Shane Elworthy, Mick McDonnell, Dylan Hand, Aaron McNally (Callum Warfield, 68); Dean Zambra; Dylan Grimes, Aodh Dervin, Niall Barnes (Sam Verdon, 38); James English; Rob Manley.

Yellow card: James English (59).

Bray Wanderers: Brian Maher; John Ross Wilson, Killian Cantwell, Dylan Barrett, Derek Daly; Sean McEvoy (Ryan Graydon, 68), Callum Thompson (Marlon Marishta, 79), Luka Lovic, Jack Watson (Paul Keegan, 60), Joe Doyle; Gary Shaw.

Yellow card: Marlon Marishta (88).

Referee: Marc Lynch.

ExtraTime.com Player of the Match: Killian Cantwell (Bray Wanderers).