Can Longford Town get back on track against Bray Wanderers at Bishopsgate?

It's bad to lose a game at any time but the nature of the result was very upsetting for our very loyal supporters. Everyone knows that the team management are under pressure to get points, having only picked up six points from nine games played to date, and we are eight in the table on a better goal difference than Treaty United who have a game in hand against second placed Waterford.

The first round of games are finished now and best forgotten as we must plan for the second round games (9) and hope there is a huge improvement in results and performances. 

Before last weekend's games Bray were sitting in second place but they had to travel to Eamonn Deacy Park to play a Galway side who look like dead certs for the title and automatic promotion even at this stage of the season.

 Galway have beaten every team so far in the First Division, scoring 29 goals to date and only conceding three. 

Bray travelled to Galway in confident mood on Friday last but were on the end of a six goal hammering and by all accounts it could be even more. 

Galway have averaged over three goals per game to date with the Town one of the few teams to keep the scoreline down to the bare minimum with the only goal of the game being scored by former Town player Darren Clarke. 

Going back to Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday one has to say that this Galway team are very good and they could go through the season unbeaten such is the strength of their squad. 

Bray have a good squad at their disposal and like most clubs in the league they are relying on having a full squad to pick from for most of the season and that basically isn't possible. 

The Bray team that started in Eamonn Deacy Park had a good mixture of youth and experience. Dane Massey has been a great signing for Bray and he will be the man that Ian Ryan will build a team around. 

Another very experienced player is striker Chris Lyons who joined the club from Premier Division Drogheda United as did youthful centre back Cole Omorehiomwan.

Harry Groome and Luka Lovic are very good players who are capable of turning a game for the club. Ben Feeney is another young player who has a knack of scoring vital goals for his team. 

There were a few familiar faces on the Bray bench in Galway on Friday last. Conor Davis, Callum Thompson and Darren Craven are all former Town players and they also have Joe Power who wasn't in the Bray squad on Friday. 

There were over 2200 fans in Eamonn Deacy Park for that top of the table clash on Friday night last which is a great boost for the league in general. 

Darren Craven came off the bench in Eamon Deacy Park on Friday when he replaced Harry Groome in the 51st minute and he is a strong player in the middle of the pitch. 

Bray come to Longford in third place and they must be respected for their position in the table but after that it's us trying to get three valuable home points as we chase the teams ahead of us. 

The first meeting between the clubs at the Carlisle grounds in mid March ended 0-0 in an enjoyable game and either team could have taken the three points.  

Bray had three very good chances but they were unable to beat Town keeper Jack Brady who had an excellent game in saving three goal bound shots.

As it stands at the moment Bray have 15 points from their nine games played to date and we only have six points and that leaves a huge gap between third from the top and third from the bottom.

 Bray will come to Longford on Saturday night next hurting from the bad hammering they got in Galway on Friday last. 

Over the years Bray were always a tough nut to crack and no doubt next Saturday night will be the same. Town manager Stephen Henderson will be hoping that some of the injured players will become fit after their long absence from the squad and it remains to be seen whether they can get back on track at home to Bray.

SSE Airtricity League First Division

Longford Town v Bray Wanderers

on Saturday April 22

Kick-off 7.30pm