Longford

[ForzaForth]

Poor first half from Wexford meant that they never really stretched the home team in Longford tonight although the Youths had a better second 45. Shane Keegan made three changes from last week with Gary, Caolan and Graham Delaney making his first start with Graham, Craig, Gary, Jamie, Jimmy, Brian, Shane, Joey, Caolan, Rocks and with Graham up front. Wexford tried to be over-elaborate from the back during the first 45, and repeatedly lost the ball in their own half which you can't do against a dangerous Longford attack. After five, O'Sullivan latched onto a through ball but Graham got down to block. On eight minutes, McCarthy got a yellow for Longford for impeding Shane who was going through. A minute later, a Longford corner was only half-cleared and Tyrell volleyed it back inside the far post for 1-0 to Longford. On 13 minutes, another through-ball was latched onto by O'Sullivan who lifted it over the advancing Graham for 2-0 to the home side.

[ForzaForth]

With 18 and 19 gone, Wexford twice lost the ball inside their own half to cough up two Longford chances, but the first one was stabbed wide and Graham managed to get down to save the second one. With 28 gone, another ball given away in their own half left O'Sullivan to find space and then plant it past Graham for 3-0. With ten to go, Bennion had to push away a good free-kick by Joey and with a minute to go, Longford's Quinn picked up a yellow for a tackle for 3-0 to the home side at half-time. Too many errors in their own half had proved to be Wexford's downfall.

[ForzaForth]

Longford generally took their foot off the gas in the second leaving the more industrious Youths to make a better impression. After two minutes, Graham had to push a Longford effort away for a corner and, two later, Salmon got a yellow for a tackle. Rocks then got a card for another tackle and this was followed by one for O'Sullivan. Wexford then had a good chance to cut into the deficit on 15 minutes, when Rocks had a free header at the far post, but Bennion did well to claw it away. On twenty minutes, Daryl came on for Graham and two later, Joey hit a good strike over the Longford wall to bring the score back to 3-1. CJ came on for a limping Jamie and Deano for Caolan with about fifteen to go. With eight to go, Bennion had to get down smartly to keep out a sliced clearance by a Town defender and the match then finished uneventfully for 3-1 to the home side. Best for Wexford were probably Rocks and the two Nolans, while I thought the three subs for the Youths also tended to increase the tempo. Wexford looked better when they played more direct but a general failing was a number of overhit through balls in the second 45 which proved to be easy collects for Bennion. 3-1 to Longford at full-time.