Longford Town take on Bray Wanderers at Bishopsgate on Saturday, kick-off 4pm

The Bray boss Ian Ryan is a very good and exciting young manager who will hope to change their luck next season but they still have an outside chance of a place in the promotion play-offs.

Longford Town are going through a bad patch at the moment as nothing seems to be going their way since the great victory over Galway at Bishopsgate a few weeks ago.  

Since that win and the draw away against Kerry FC there have been a lot of poor results and that put paid to our chase for a top 5 spot which would guarantee the club a place in the play-offs. 

The fact that Stephen Henderson didn't take over the job until late into the winter was a disadvantage as he tried to get in new players. In fairness to Stephen he has done a great job bringing in some very exciting youngsters and also some experienced ones.

 Stephen has been confirmed as manager for next season and that is a big bonus for the club. The Town should start preparing for next season when the league ends on October 20th.  

On Friday last the Town travelled to Cobh and in the end were beaten two nil by a new look team assembled by Shane Keegan who is a very shrewd manager.

Cobh, by all accounts, has got big financial backing and we all know that clubs with big money behind them have a distinct advantage on the field of play. 

Now is the time for the club and the supporters to get together and push the club to the pinnacle of the First Division next season when the club celebrates one hundred years in football.

 Bray have Ian Ryan and Pat Devlin planning their route out of the second tier league and have assembled a squad capable of achieving that target.

Bray and the Town played each other three times this season and Longford have the bragging rights after two draws and a win to date. The first meeting between the clubs was played in early March and that game ended scoreless at the Carlisle grounds. 

The next meeting between the clubs was played at Bishopsgate at the end of April and that game ended 1-1. 

Joshua Giurgi gave the Town the lead after 10 minutes but Conor Davis equalised for the visitors in the 80th minute. Conor is one of a few former Town players in the Bray squad at the moment. 

The third meeting between the clubs at the Carlisle grounds took place in the first weekend in August.

 Chris Lyons gave the home side the lead from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute and they increased their advantage in the 48th minute and that goal came from the very experienced Dane Massey. 

The Town were playing well but had no luck in front of goal until the 68th minute when sharp shooter Cristian Magerusan got a goal back for the Town. 

Two minutes later Cristian's strike partner Beineon O'Brien-Whitmarsh equalised for the visitors.

 Another striker Jordan Adeyemo got in on the scoring act when he put the Town ahead in the 81st minute and he added goal number 4 for the Town one minute into injury time. 

That night the Town played some top class football and if they repeat that form on Saturday supporters could be in for a real cracker.

Longford had close to their best team out on Friday night last with the exception of captain Shane Elworthy and Aaron Walsh who are still missing through injury. 

Bray have some very exciting players in their squad, notably the very experienced Dane Massey and Chris Lyons both who have played at the top level.

This game being the last home fixture of the season will give the players a chance to show the supporters some pride after the recent poor results.

After this weekend's game it's over the road to Athlone on Friday night week for the final game of the season.