Wexford Youths 0 - 2 Longford Town

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Click to view a gallery of photos from Sean Dempsey of tonight's game

It was a night for firsts in Ferrycarrig Park as Longford Town picked up their first win of the season and both goalscorers got their first goals for the club.

Jacques Morley signed for the club in the close season and he is one player to watch out for this season. He opened the scoring for the Town six minutes after the restart and Don Cowan made sure of all three points in the 72nd minute.

The swirling wind didn’t help either team and the first half was rather drab and dour. The visitors completely dominated the first half but failed to test keeper Packie Holden.

Despite being out played in the opening half it was Wexford who had the best chances as half-time approached. First Shane Nolan failed to connect with Ben Ryan's cross into the box. Seconds later Nolan turned provider, this time his ball met the head of Darragh Walshe but he headed over.

We were hoping that better fare would be on show in the second half and we didn’t have to wait long before we had a goal to report. Six minutes after the restart and the deadlock was broken. Town winger Cathal Brady cut into the box from the right and played a superb ball across the face of the goals. Holden could only parry the ball and it fell to Jacques Morley who made no mistake from close range.

Longford had a chance to double their advantage four minutes later. A cross from the left was met by full-back Graham Dowling but his diving header was expertly tipped over the bar by Holden.

Brady was the provider again in the 72nd minute when the Town grabbed their second of the night. He played the ball to Don Cowan who found the net from about 20 yards out.

It was all Longford Town as they pressed to get goal number three but the Youths were hoping to catch them on the break and they very nearly did in the 81st minute. Substitute Dave Grincell went through on goals but the visitors keeper Alvin Rouse came out to make a very smart save to keep his goal intact.

Wexford Youths: Packie Holden; Karl Keogh, Anto Russell, Anthony Wolfe, Patsy Malone; Craig Wall (Max Cream, 69), Darragh Walshe (Dave Grincell, 77), Shane Nolan; Danny Furlong, Ben Ryan (Muzzi Mullen, 86).
Subs not used: Garret McCurtin, Kevin Rowe.
Yellow cards: Walshe (34), Malone (58), Keogh (62), Grincell (87).

Longford Town: Alvin Rouse; Graham Dowling, Mike Lee, Des Hope, Chris Deans; Thomas Hyland, Cathal Brady, Mark Salmon, Craig Walsh, Jacques Morley (Aidan Roche, 71); Don Cowan (Jason Oladele, 86).
Subs not used: Niall O'Reilly, Paddy Collins, Piotr Sczcerbowski, Daniel O'Reilly, Stephen Conlon
Yellow Cards: None.

Referee: Jim McKell (Tipperary)

Man of the match: Cathal Brady (Longford Town) – Provider of both goals and was a threat all night.