Longford Town 2 - 1 Wexford Youths

• Deniese O'Flaherty
• Thu, May 26 2011


It took them six games and just over two seasons but Longford Town finally beat Wexford Youths at Flancare Park.

In previous games between these two sides at the midlands venue the Youths have always come away with a win but not this time. The Town dominated proceedings from start to finish, although the visitors did have a purple patch in the second half which saw them pull a goal back and make things a bit edgy towards the end.

It was the visitors that had the first effort on goal but Town keeper Paul Hunt wasn’t troubled by Ben Ryan’s shot in the 5th minute. Two minutes later Town had the ball in the back of the net but Austin Skelly’s effort was ruled offside.

Longford Town began to get in their stride with Skelly and his strike partner Don Cowan working well together up front. A foul on Cowan on the edge of the box in the 13th minute led to the Town nearly taking the lead. Both Keith Gillespie and Jack Morley stood over the ball with the latter opting to take the free. Morley’s his well-taken kick brought a fine save out of Packie Holden who spilled the ball but Skelly hit the side netting when he followed up.

As the half progressed the Longford continued to pile on the pressure and Holden was kept very busy. In the 24th minute their dominance paid off and they finally broke the deadlock. Gillespie’s free from the right was met by the stooping head of Skelly.

Three minutes later and Skelly had a chance to double the advantage. After cutting inside Youths defender Martin Kehoe the striker’s effort was saved by Holden. Holden was tested again minutes later this time it was Cowan who tried his luck but the netminder pushed his effort out for a corner.

Such was Town’s dominance in the first half that the ball was rarely in their own half. As half-time approached the Longford created further chances; Skelly was so unlucky not to get his second of the game, in a goalmouth scramble the ball fell to him but he blasted his effort over. One minute before the break Gillespie’s free from the left sailed over the bar.

It only took Longford Town five minutes after the break for them to get their second and it was scorer Skelly who turned provider this time. Thomas Hyland’s long ball fell to Skelly who turned one Youths defender then slipped the ball to Cathal Brady through the legs of another defender and the winger found the net from a very tight angle.

After being out of the game for so long The Youths began to get a grip on the game and in a dominant spell managed to pull a goal back. First Danny Furlong was slightly off target with his effort in the 60th minute. In the 72nd minute they were awarded a penalty when Town defender Des Hope brought down Darragh Walshe in the box. Furlong took the spot-kick and made no mistake.

Instead of spurring the visitors on the goal woke the Town up and made them realise that it was very much game on. They had the ball and the chances to extend their lead but just couldn’t. Youths huffed and puffed but weren’t able to blow the ball past the Town defence. Such was the Town’s dominance in the game their keeper Paul Hunt didn’t have to make any real save of note and they held on for a well deserved win.

Longford Town: Paul Hunt, Thomas Hyland, Des Hope, Paddy Collins, Gary Cronin, Cathal Brady, Keith Gillespie, Mark Salmon, Jack Morley (Aidan Roche ht), Don Cowan (Craig Walsh 66), Austin Skelly (Lee Roche 70).
Subs: Niall O'Reilly, Jason Oladele, Alvin Rouse, Daniel O'Reilly
Yellow cards: Hope 72, A Roche 89

Wexford Youths: Packie Holden, Dean Broaders, Martin Kehoe, Karl Keogh, Shane Nolan, Patsy Malone (Dave Grincell 87), Ben Ryan, Craig Wall, Darragh Walshe, Greg Yelverton (Danny Furlong ht), Muzzy Mullen (Kevin Rowe ht).
Subs: Robert Dempsey, Anthony Wolfe.

Referee: Jim McKell

Attendance: 200 (est)

Extratime.ie man of the match: Austin Skelly (Longford Town): The striker was immense throughout. Scored one goal and was provider for the second. Unfortunately had to go off injured midway through the second half