Wexford Youths 1 - 2 Longford Town
Credit:
The win moves the Town up to 8th place in the table, just two points behind Youths. They worked hard for the win and on the overall balance of play deserved the three points.
Town had the first effort on goal; that came in the 3rd minute. Mark Salmon’s free from just on the edge of the box was headed wide by defender Chris Deans who was at the far post.
The home side took control as they settled into the game and despite
enjoying possession they failed to create any goal chances. Their
first real opportunity to break the deadlock came in the 22nd minute;
Danny Furlong raced onto a long ball and found himself in a good
position after opening up the Town defence but he somehow lost control
and Deans was able to get back and clear.
Despite being outplayed in the opening half the Town broke the
deadlock seven minutes later. A corner from the left was swung in by
Aidan Roche, Chris Deans hit a goal bound volley and Lee Roche
finished it to the net; his first goal for the club.
Town had a chance to double their advantage in the 46th minute; Peter
Hynes did well to get to the endline, he laid the ball back to Aidan
Roche but Youths keeper Packie Holden got down well to gather the ball.
They were to rue that chance because the Youths got back on level
terms shortly after though it was well over the time allocated for
stoppages; Gary Sheahan with a cracking strike that flew in past Town
keeper Aaron Shanahan.
Mark Salmon brought a fine save out of Holden two minutes after the
break before Youths created a chance for themselves; Chris Kenny’s
header was easily stopped by Shanahan.
John Lester’s free-kick failed to trouble Holden minutes later and in
the 60th minute Aidan Roche dragged his low shot wide.
Youths were reduced to ten men in the 65th minute when Anto Russell
received his second yellow of the night for a foul of Lee Roche.
The pace of the game died down a little as neither side make much of
an impact on proceedings and chances were limited.
Cousins decided to change things around and introduced JP McDonagh
and Jason Oladele for the Roche brothers who both played well
throughout.
Oladele was just on the pitch three minutes when he grabbed the
winner; Hynes flicked the ball into his path and he deftly lobbed the
ball over Holden in the Youths goal.
Wexford Youths: Pakie Holden, Chris Kenny, Aidan McCann, Anto Russell,
Anthony Wolfe, Shane Dempsey, Greg Yleverton, Shane Sinnott, Danny
Furlong, Gary Sheahan, Dean Broaders.
Subs: Muzzi Mullen for Broaders 57mins Shane Nolan for Yleverton
67mins.
Not used: Martin Kehoe, Garret McCurtin, Kevin Rowe.
Longford Town: Aaron Shanahan, Niall O’Reilly, Chris Deans, John
Lester, Mike Lee, Cathal Brady, Victor Ekanem, Mark Salmon, Aidan
Roche, Peter Hynes, Lee Roche.
Subs: JP McDonagh for A Roche 77mins, Jason Oladele for L Roche 81mins
Not used: Kevin Cronin, Craig Walsh, Stephen Conlon.
Referee: P Sutton
Attendance: 411
extratime man of the match: John Lester (Longford Town)
