Longford Town 2 - 1 Waterford United
Credit:
Longford Town came from behind to record their second league win of the season and move back to the top of the First Division table.
It was another below par performance from the Town but they did enough to claim victory with the goals coming from Michael Isichei and David O’Sullivan
The Blues started the game well and in the 3rd minute Chris Bennion had to be alert to race out of his goals to clear the danger before Paul Quilty could get to it.
Three minutes later Ben Ryan created their first chance; after pouncing on a poor clearance from Brian McCarthy, Ryan unleashed a shot which came off the crossbar.
It was all Waterford and it was no surprise that they opened the scoring in the 13th minute; Paudie Quinn picked up the ball and cut inside Corie Treacy before curling the ball superbly past Bennion. The Longford keeper had no chance.
The home side just couldn’t get into their stride and in the 23rd minute they lost Treacy to injury; he was replaced by Noel Haverty. Despite their early dominance Waterford sat back a little and invited Town onto them. As the half-hour mark approached Longford began to come into the game.
In the 36th minute the midlanders levelled the game with their first real chance; David O’Sullivan played the ball to Isichei and he went through on goal to shoot a low shot past former Town keeper and now Blues netminder Craig Hyland. It was his first goal in a Longford jersey.
Town were buoyed up by the goal and went in search of a second that would put them in front. First Etanda Nkololo’s shot was saved by Hyland, then seconds later Isichei’s shot was deflected out for a corner.
On the break Quilty took a shot but it was saved by Bennion. Down the other end Keith Gillespie blasted his effort over. In first-half stoppage time Town took the lead and it was to be the winning goal; Willie Tyrell got his head to a corner and O’Sullivan got the vital flick on to head past Hyland; his fourth goal in two league games.
Longford started the second-half a lot better than they had the first and Hyland was called into action in the 53rd minute pulling off a fine double save; Mark Salmon’s shot was saved by the net minder, the loose ball fell to O’Sullivan but his effort was tipped over the crossbar.
Waterford had half-efforts in the space of three minutes but Quilty and Gavin Kavangh failed to trouble Bennion. In the 70th minute Waterford very nearly levelled the game; Peter Higgins whipped a pinpoint cross into the box but Vinny Sullivan’s half-volley just went agonisingly wide.
Quinn followed up with a shot that brought a routine save out of Bennion. The home side had their chances; in the 78th minute substitute David O’Neill should’ve done better with his effort.
Waterford continued to press for an equaliser; Sullivan tested Bennion with a snapshot while McCarthy did well to cut out Higgins’ cross in the 84th minute. With the Blues pushing forward, it left them vulnerable at the back. In the 90th minute Hyland was forced into making a good save with his feet to deny Nkololo.
Two minutes into additional time Waterford were awarded a free in a dangerous position after Tyrell had fouled Higgins but Ryan’s kick was cleared by Longford Town and they held on for the win.
Longford Town: Chris Bennion; Corie Treacy (Noel Haverty 23), Willo McDonagh, Brian McCarthy, Willie Tyrell; Daniel Purdy, Mark Salmon (Colm James 55), Keith Gillespie (David O’Neill 74), Etanda Nkololo; David O’Sullivan, Michael Isichei
Subs not used: Paul Hunt, Michael Lee, Gavin Doyle, Josh O’Hanlon.
Booked: Colm James 78, Willie Tyrell 86
Waterford United: Craig Hyland, Aidan McGrath, Gavin Kavanagh, David Breen, John Frost, Ben Ryan, Peter Higgins, Francis Rockett (Peter White 55), Paudie Quinn, Vinny Sullivan, Paul Quilty (Daragh Walshe 82).
Subs not used: Seamus Long, Conor Coad, Kevin O’Connor, Jamie Cross, Robbie Hughes.
Booked: Aidan McGrath (43).
Referee: Adriano Reale (Kildare).
Attendance: 320 (official).
Extratime.ie man of the match: David O’Sullivan (Longford Town).
