Longford Town get back on track with wonderful win away to Wexford
SSE Airtricity League First Division - Round 15
Wexford FC . . . 0 Longford Town . . . . 3
New signing Beineon O’Brien-Whitmarsh (on loan from Cobh Ramblers) made a marvellous debut for the midlanders with the striker scoring the first and third goals while fellow attacker Joshua Giurgi was also on target.
Forced to field without suspended pair, goalkeeper Jack Brady and midfield dynamo Aodh Dervin, this a great result for Stephen Henderson’s side who have moved into seventh position in the league table and are now just three points adrift of the promotion play-off places.
Solid in defence, Longford gradually began to get on top with Jamal Ibrahim posing problems and the deadlock was broken in the 40th minute when O’Brien-Whitmarsh directed a header into the net after capitalising on a mistake by the Wexford keeper Heffernan.
Three minutes later, following a penetrating run and perfect cross from Ibrahim, the second goal materialised when Giurgi scored from close range to put the visitors in control.
During this decisive period in the game, former Town striker Aaron Dobbs had a good chance of hitting the target for Wexford but his shot lacked power and was comfortably saved by reserve Longford keeper Jack Harrington, standing in for the suspended Jack Brady.
There was no way back for stunned Wexford (featuring a few former Longford players) and they conceded a third goal in the 64th minute when a quick counter attack ended up with O'Brien-Whitmarsh finding the net from close range to put the issue beyond all doubt.
Longford Town play second in the table Waterford FC in their next league fixture at Bishopsgate on Saturday May 27, kick-off 7.30pm
WEXFORD FC: Heffernan, Lynch, Douglas, Boyle, McCann, Dobbs, Hanratty, Dunne, Piper, Corbally, Webb.
Subs: Chambers and Tallon.
LONGFORD TOWN: Jack Harrington; Shane Elworthy, Viktor Senderiuk, Cian Byrne, Kyle O’Connor; Adam Verdon, Ross Fay, Jamal Ibrahim (Darragh Lynch 79 mins), Evan Farrell (Gary Armstrong 60 mins), Joshua Giurgi (Gavin O’Brien 82 mins), Beineon O'Brien-Whitmarsh (Stephen Meaney 82 mins).
Referee: Alan Patchell.