Longford

[ForzaForth]

Battling effort from the Youths tonight but utlimately not enough as they didn't create enough once they went a goal down to the home side. Youths started with Graham, Mark, Jamie, CJ, Jimmy, Deano, Patsy, Craig, Aidan and Shane Nolan playing behind Tom up front. Game started quiet enough but it soon became clear that a stronger and more physical Youths side were dominating in the air and were prepared to play to that strength. Wexford were better in the first half than the second and the first genuine effort came after fifteen in when a Longford shot from twenty out landed straight in the arms of Graham in the Youths goal. A few minutes later, Patsy had a shot from 25 out which went just over and this was followed by another effort over from Tom from fifteen out when he had done well to find some space. However, on the half hour, Longford went ahead when, on the third of three corners, the ball went well beyond the far post to find HAverty in the clear and his looping header back to the near post was deemed over the line by the lino. just as the Wexford defender stretched to head it clear. With eight to go in the half, Aidan, who was winning everything in the air, headed just wide from a cross by Shane Nolan. With five to go, Deano hobbled off after being injured a few minutes previously in a tackle and was replaced by Danny Furlong. 1-0 to the home side at half-time and the Youths a bit unlucky to be behind.

[ForzaForth]

The second half started with a good cross from the left by Longford which the incoming Longford forward just couldn't reach. After five, Tom got a yellow for what looked like dissent. After ten, Longford had a great chance to go two ahead when a free was headed on to find a Longford player free and coming in at the far post but he smacked the first-time half volley over from about six out when it looked easier to score. Midway through the second half, Wexford went three at the back when Shane Dempsey replaced Jimmy. Wexford then coughed up 2-3 good chances due to being stretched at the back but Longford made a mess of them all leaving it still all to play for going into the final fifteen. At this point, Aidan picked up a yellow for a tackle.Wexford's two chances to equalise then came at this point when, with seven to go, Danny curled a shot just wide when about eighteen out. With five to go, CJ hobbled off with James Scallan coming on. With two to go, Wexford nearly got the equaliser when Danny hit a goal-bound volley but it was deflected away agonisingly just wide of the post for only a corner and the match soon ended with a 1-0 scoreline for the home side.

[ForzaForth]

Best for Wexford were Aidan, who was dominant in the air for most of the match, Patsy and Craig who closed down Kirby and Gillespie in the central battle and Danny when he came on but I think he has to be played centrally up front to get the best out of him. Gillespie's delivery of the deadball for Longford was exemplary all night and if we had something similar for the Youths on the night, the result might have been different. 1-0 at full-time.

[Martinho II]

fair play to yer small crew of supporters ye showed us up easily.. it took section o a hell of a long time to get their act together.. blame the nerves!