Longford Town hold out for vital point in stalemate against Waterford

Longford Town . . . 0  Waterford FC . . . 0

It was a vital point gained in the pursuit for a place in the promotion play-offs and manager Stephen Henderson is gradually making progress with his young squad who continue to be competitive this season and particularly so against the two top teams, Galway United and Waterford. 

Former Bohemians boss Keith Long is now in charge at the RSC and he was a very frustrated figure at Bishopsgate as his physically strong and talented team failed to break the deadlock with Waterford's best chance coming in the 62nd minute. 

Thomas Oluwa found a way through the stubborn Longford defence, only to have his close range shot stopped in fine fashion by the opposing keeper Jack Brady, and while the ball broke straight into the path of Shane Griffin his strike hit the crossbar in a very lucky escape for the relieved home side.

Brady also got a touch to the goalbound effort from Griffin in producing a crucial double save and it was just not to be for Waterford who sorely missed their suspended striker Ronan Coughlan. 

Currently without a number of players due to a mounting injury list, Longford had a scoring chance in the early stages of the game when the Waterford keeper Paul Martin was scrambling to stop a shot from Aodh Dervin, back in the team after serving a one match suspension as was also the case for Jack Brady. 

The Town created another couple of decent opportunities in the first half and had a strong claim for a penalty in stoppage time when the referee Declan Toland awarded a free-kick when it look as though the foul on Ross Fay was just inside the box. 

Waterford were always a threat as they enjoyed the great share of the possession with defender Ryan Burke blasting a shot across the face of the goalmouth in the 36th minute as the ball drifted narrowly wide. 

The visitors upped the tempo in the second half in their frantic search for a winning goal and after former Town player Dean McMenamy shot straight at Jack Brady, the Town keeper and the crossbar came to Longford's rescue just past the hour mark. 

Moments later Niall O'Keeffe shot narrowly wide and Waterford went close again in the 80th minute when a header from Thomas Oluwa was just off target.

Longford's best chance of snatching a victory fell to substitute Gary Armstrong in the 82nd minute when his close range shot was blocked but the happy home supporters were very satisfied with this positive result against Waterford's full-time outfit. 

LONGFORD TOWN: Jack Brady, Shane Elworthy, Viktor Serdeniuk, Cian Byrne, Kyle O'Connor, Aodh Dervin, Adam Verdon, Joshua Giurgi, Ross Fay, Jamal Ibrahim, Beineon O'Brien-Whitmarsh. 

Subs:- Emmanuel James for Elworthy (injured, 52 mins), Gary Armstrong for Verdon (68 mins), Darragh Lynch for Fay and Evan Farrell for Ibrahim (both in the 82nd minute). 

WATERFORD FC: Paul Martin, Niall O' Keeffe, Killian Cantwell, Giles Ene Malachi Phillips, Ryan Burke, Roland Idowu, Shane Griffin, Barry Crowe Baggley, Dean McMenamy, Connor Parsons, Thomas Oluwa. 

Subs:- Tunmise Sobowale for McMenamy (56 mins), Christopher Conn Clarke for Idowu (76 mins), Wassim Aouachria for Oluwa (83 mins). 

Referee: Declan Toland