Longford Town looking for a positive result at home to Wexford FC

Wexford had a strong start to the season but injuries and possibly loss of form is clearly a cause for concern in their quest to challenge for a place in the promotion play-offs.

Longford Town will be looking for a positive result to move up the table and the management seem to be happy enough with the progress of this very young squad.

When one considers the fact that the boss Stephen Henderson has brought in at least twenty new players this season the current position of this youthful squad might seem okay to some people. 

Six points from eight games played is not very exciting for the Town supporters. The game against Wexford is the final fixture in the first phase of the league. 

 There is no doubt that continuity for clubs in the League of Ireland is a must and the Town club will be hoping for a better return from the second series of games. 

The Town team v Treaty had one change from that which started the previous game against Kerry with Francis Campbell coming in for Darragh Lynch. Campbell scored the Town's first goal after 20 minutes.  Joshua Giurgi followed up his two goals against Kerry with a very well taken goal on 79 minutes for the equaliser.

Dean George put a big smile on the face of Treaty manager Tommy Barrett when he scored the all important third goal to give the Limerick side its first win of the season. 

That win brings Treaty up to 6 points (same as the Town) but they have a game in hand against revitalised Waterford who are scoring at will under their new management team of Keith Long and former Town player Alan Reynolds.

Reynolds has left Derry City to join his home town management team and there is no doubt that Waterford will be a much better squad throughout the season.

The Town are still short a few of the more senior players due to injury and when they return it should strengthen Stephen Henderson's hand when it comes to starting to win games.

 Some good news for the manager was the fact that Aaron Walsh was back in contention as he was on the bench for the Treaty game. 

James Doona and Cristian Mageruson are still unavailable due to injury but both will be hoping to get back in action very soon. 

The Town had the advantage in meetings between the clubs last year. Longford won their opening game against Wexford on a 3-0 scoreline and the game was played in Ferrycarrig Park. Dylan Barnett, Aaron Robinson and Ryan Graydon all scored.

 The second meeting between the clubs was in Longford and the Town won 2-1.  Conor Barry scored a late consolation goal after Sam Verdon and Eric Molloy had put the Town in the lead.

 The Town won the next game at home 1-0 and it was an unfortunate OG by former Town player Joe Manley that secured the three points for Longford. 

The other game in Wexford saw the home side win 2-1 with goals from Luka Lovic and Conor Barry, the latter on target in the 94th minute. Karl Chambers scored for the Town in the 75th minute. 

At the end of last season Gary Cronin decided to leave the club and his assistant James Keddy also decided to leave to take over as the Wexford manager. 

Cronin went to Bohemians as assistant manager and James Keddy was looking for players as he decided to return to the Town and he signed quite a few.

 At this stage it looks as if they could almost field a new team from Town ex-players. Keddy has Wexford playing nice football and like the Town he is also getting it very hard to grind out results.

A close encounter is expected at Bishopsgate on Saturday night and hopefully Longford Town can register their second win of the season.