Report: Longford Town 0-2 Waterford United

Waterford Utd moved to within just one point of leaders Shelbourne with a well deserved win over a rather lacklustre Longford Town side, their first win at Flancare Park since 2005.

After Shelbourne’s win last night which sent them to the top of the table and Dundalk dropping two points away to Monaghan Utd, Gareth Cronin’s men knew they had to get three points against Longford Town to keep the pressure on the top two. Things could change again at the top on Tuesday night; Longford Town are away to second place Dundalk while Waterford Utd play host to Athlone Town at the RSC.

This defeat was the home side’s first in five game, but they offered very little in this game and in the end manager Aaron Callaghan will have no complaints about the result; his team were beaten by the hungrier side.

Both sides showed two changes from their last games. Stephen Brennan partnered Ronan Frawley in the heart of defence with Andy Bermingham dropping to the bench and Alan Lynch came back into the side after being dropped for the Sporting Fingal game with Darren McKenna out through injury. For Waterford Stephen Quigley came back in at right full in place of Kieran Fitzgerald while Luke Fitzpatrick started in place of Joe Mulcahy.

The first chance of the game came in the ninth minute from the visitors. Michael Foley put in a pinpoint cross from the left but Vinny Sullivan’s header flashed across goal. Ten minutes later and the visitors had another chance to break the deadlock. Luke Fitzpatrick with the cross, but Willie John Kiely looped his header over from close range.

The home side’s first chance came in the 20th minute. Gary Murphy did well down the wing, he crossed to Brian Kelly but he flashed a header across the face of the goal. In the 33rd minute the Town had another effort. The move was initiated by Luke Hardy in the middle of the park, he played the ball out wide to Murphy who crossed over the face of goal, Damien Rushe was beaten in the air by Stephen Quigley but his clearance fell to Hardy and from just inside the box he screwed his shot inches wide.

Six minutes from half-time Kiely had another opportunity to open the scoring. It was Sullivan who crossed but his strike partner shot over the crossbar.

Whatever manager Gareth Cronin said to his charges at half-time worked because three minutes after the restart they broke the deadlock. Michael Foley played a lovely ball over the top, striker Willie John Kiely looked to be offside when he lobbed his shot over the advancing Town keeper Neil Gallagher.

Five minutes later and the visitors doubled their lead. Luke Fitzpatrick with the pass and from just outside the box Vinny Sullivan turned and took a shot; his shot looked as if it would bounce wide but instead it sneaked into the far corner of the net.

Town had a chance to pull a goal back in the 70th minute. A corner from the right was whipped in by substitute Daire Doyle but in a goalmouth scramble no one could get that vital touch and Paul McCarthy was able to clear the danger for a corner. Town began to press and two minutes later a ball in by Rushe was punched away by Waterford keeper Packie Holden. But that was all they could muster up and the visitors soaked up the pressure as they played down the clock.

Town keeper Gallagher pulled off a great save six minutes from time. Substitute Karl Birmingham flicked the ball onto Sullivan who took a shot but Gallagher did well to push away the danger.

Longford Town: Neil Gallagher; Ryan O’Donnell, Ronan Frawley, Stephen Brennan, Ryan Casey; Gary Murphy, Luke Hardy, Damien Rushe (Daithi Garry 77), Iarfhlaith Davoren; Brian Kelly (Dean Barrett 50), Alan Lynch (Daire Doyle 57).
Subs not used: Andy Bermingham, Alan O’Riordan.

Waterford United: Packie Holden; Stephen Quigley, David Breen, Kenny Browne, Robbie Clarke; Luke Fitzpatrick (Kevin aters 82), Dave Warren, Paul McCarthy, Michael Foley; Vinny Suillvan, Willie John Kiely (Karl Bermingham 73 (David Grincell 86)).
Subs not used: Ben Spicer, John Hayes.

Referee: Eddie McNally (Cork).

Attendance: 400 (estimate).