- Deniese O'Flaherty
- Sun, Mar 11 2018
A brace from Chris Mulhall and one from substitute Dylan McGlade saw Longford Town register their first win of the season on Saturday night at City Calling Stadium.
Town did create plenty of chances but were thwarted on a number of occasions by Wexford keeper Danny Bolger and also the woodwork with Sam Verdon and Peter Hopkins both being denied by the post. Wexford’s Dean Kelly also hit the woodwork too.
Shane O’Connor had the first chance of the game but the Town midfielder’s effort lacked real power and Bolger was able to save. Down the other end Town keeper Michael Kelly saved from Aaron Dobbs in the 20th minute.
Minutes later Kelly denied Mark Slater with some quick thinking. Town defender Mick McDonnell headed over from close range in the 27th minute and then 10 minutes later the deadlock was broken when Shane Elworthy’s cross was finished to the net by Chris Mulhall.
Sam Verdon had a chance to double Town’s lead but he hit the post with a powerful long-range effort in the 41st minute.
In the 55th minute Dean Kelly hit the woodwork as the visitors nearly equalised. Bolger saved from Mulhall in the 62nd minute and two minutes later he denied Peter Hopkins from getting Town’s second of the net.
Bolger nearly turned villain in the 74th minute when his clearance came off Mulhall, the ball fell to Hopkins who hit the butt of the post with his effort.
Town were patient and kept piling on the pressure as they pressed for a second goal. In the 80th minute Mulhall got his and his side’s second goal; McGlade did well to cut inside the box and laid the ball off to Mulhall who curled it to the net.
Fenn was relieved to see that second goal go in: “We had a couple of chances when it was 1-0 and so did they. They were dangerous on the break and we were conscious of that. Until we got the second goal it was always going to be a little bit hairy.”
Town weren’t done with just two goals and went in search of another one and that came in the 85th minute when substitute Dylan McGlade got on the scoresheet. Wexford’s Ross Kenny slammed the ball off the post as he tried to clear and it fell to McGlade who made no mistake with the rebound.
Longford Town: Mick Kelly; Shane Elworthy, Daniel O’Reilly, Mick McDonnell, Tristan Noack-Hofmann; Dean Zambra; Peter Hopkins, Shane O’Connor (Dean Byrne 71), Darren Meenan (Dylan McGlade 63); Sam Verdon (Aodh Dervin 88); Chris Mulhall.
Subs not used: Jack Brady, Karl Chambers, Adam O’Connor, Jamie Hollywood.
Yellow card: O’Connor 68
Wexford: Danny Bolger; Mark Slater, Owen McCormack, Ross Kenny, Sean Kelly (Danny Doyle 81); Aaron Dobbs, Mickey Byrne, Thomas Croke (Owen Wall 71), Sean Hurley; Dean Kelly, Chris Kenny.
Subs not used: Kealan Gaffney, Dean George, AJ Lehane, John Moran, Liam McCartan.
Referee: Eoghan O’Shea (Tipperary)
Attendance: 421
Extratime Man of the Match: Peter Hopkins (Longford Town)
