League Preview: Bray Wanderers -v- Longford Town

• Andrew Dempsey
• Mon, Aug 07 2023




BRAY WANDERERS

Bray Wanderers head coach Ian Ryan is keen for his side to put a 90-minute performance together when the Seagulls host Longford Town at the Carlisle Grounds (kick-off is at 3pm).

Ryan’s side were held to a 2-2 draw against Athlone Town on Friday despite holding the lead in injury time. But in the circumstances it was not a bad point.

Bray had two players sent off – Dave Webster and Cole Omorehiomwan – and also fell behind during the first-half.

Yet, they fought back to take a 2-1 lead into the closing stages before they were thwarted at the death.

“The problem for us is the consistency of the performances,” Ryan said. “That was shown in the first and second halves on Friday against Athlone.  “We need that second half display over 90 minutes.

“We need to match the intensity and desire and bring it into the Longford game. There’s a third of the season left to play.

“The first third of the season, we were very good. The middle part probably hasn’t gone to plan but everything that has gone ahead of this is now irrelevant.

“There’s 11 games left and it is a shoot-out. We can all see how tight this league is.”

LONGFORD TOWN

Longford Town head into Monday afternoon’s showdown off the back of a thrilling win over Treaty United on Friday night.

Cristian Magerusan was the hero for ten-man Longford hero as he netted twice.

Tommy Barrett’s side looked on course to claim a morale-boosting victory with just ten minutes left to play after Aaron Walsh was sent off.

At that point they were 2-1 ahead following goals from Adam Lennon and Dean George in the first-half.

Longford were level for a brief spell after Gary Armstrong cancelled out Lennon’s first half opener with a fine low finish.

But it was during the second half when De Town came alive to salvage a win from the jaws of defeat.

Magerusan opened his account in the 87th minute with a superb free-kick that flew past Treaty stopper Corey Chambers to level proceedings.

And in the fifth minute of injury time the forward pounced on some slack Treaty defending to turn the ball into the net.

The win however came at a cost for the Red and Black with Walsh sent off. He will miss Monday’s game as a result, but they do at least welcome back Bastien Hery from his recent ban.

Referee: Declan Toland.

PREDICTION

Bray Wanderers 0-2 Longford Town

 

Bray Wanderers

Injured: Conor Davis.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Cole Omorehiomwan, Dave Webster.

 

Longford Town

Injured: Oisin Hand.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Aaron Walsh.