Wexford Youths 1 - 3 Longford Town

• Deniese O'Flaherty
• Fri, Aug 19 2011


Longford Town came from behind to claim all three points in Wexford and in doing so moved back up to fifth place in the First Division table.

After conceding a goal five minutes from the break the Town worked hard to get back into the game and completely outplayed their opponents in the second half and in the end got their just rewards.

There was very little to report in the opening quarter. Longford had a chance in the 8th minute but Youths keeper Packie Holden got down to save Mark Salmon’s effort. Down the other end in the 14th minute Shane Dempsey’s free failed to trouble Town netminder Alvin Rouse.

It really was dire stuff and the weather matched the fare that was on offer. Longford dominated possession but failed to create anything of note. Then in the 31st minute they should’ve opened the scoring when Purdy found himself in a perfect position but the youngster’s effort came off the crossbar.

Four minutes later and Youths defender Karl Keogh blocked Thomas Crawley’s goalbound effort as the visitors continued to press. It was all Town at this stage and the home side offered little but you had a sneaky feeling that would change and five minutes before the break it did. Totally against the run of play Youths opened the scoring. Striker Danny Furlong beat the offside trap to shoot past Rouse. It was a real blow for the Town.

Longford started the second like they had the first but their play in the final third let them down. Then out of nothing Youths could’ve doubled their advantage when they broke up the field and Dave Grincell flashed his shot across the face of goal in the 57th minute.

Crawley had another chance in the 61st minute but he blasted his effort over the bar. Five minutes later and the Town were deservedly back on level terms when Thomas Hyland finished off Craig Walsh’s corner. The midfielder made amends for scoring on own goal last weekend against Shels.

The Town continued to pile on the pressure and in the 79th minute they took the lead. Walsh turned from provider to scorer; unleashing an unstoppable shot from about 25 yards out past Holden. Wexford offered very little and never looked like getting back into the game. In the 90th minute they were reduced to 10 men when Darragh Walshe was red carded for a foul on substitute Jeff Flood.

Right at the end the Town grabbed their third goal of the game when they were awarded a penalty. Mark Salmon stepped up to take the spot-kick and duly dispatched it past Holden. It ended up being a good night’s work for the Town in the South-East

Wexford Youths:Packie Holden; Shane Nolan (Mark Phelan 38), Karl Keogh, Martin Kehoe, Dean Broaders; Ben Ryan, Shane Dempsey, Craig Wall (Dave Grincell 34 (Tom Elmes 84)), Robert Vickers; Danny Furlong, Darragh Walshe.
Subs not used: Eoin Kinsella, Muzzy Mullen, Greg Yelverton, Patsy Malone.

Bookings:None.
Sendings Off: Danny Walshe 90.

Longford Town: Alvin Rouse; Graham Dowling, Des Hope (Jeff Flood 73), Chris Deans, Gary Cronin; Craig Walsh, Mark Salmon, Thomas Hyland; Darragh Satelle (Cathal Brady 59), Thomas Crawley, Daniel Purdy (Jean Biansumba 69) .

Subs not used: Mike Lee, Alan McGreal, Paul Hunt, Sean Skelly.

Bookings:None.
Sendings Off: None .

extratime.ie Man of the Match:Thomas Crawley (Longford Town).

Referee:Tom Connolly (Dublin).