Longford

[ForzaForth]

Strong final third of the game secured a comfortable enough win for Longford in a wet Ferrycarrig tonight, although it looked for a while that Wexford might be able to pick up their first home points. Longford started without both Skelly and Cowan and the Youths made one change from the team which started against Cork with Shane Dempsey coming in and started Packie, Shane N., Murt, Karl, Deano, Ben, Shane D., Craig, Robert and Danny and Darragh up front. Longford slightly shaded the first half on chances created and, after five, had a run in on Packie but a heavy touch allowed Packie to gather. Shane D. then had a free kick on target but the Longford keeper saved comfortably. After 30, Ben got clear on the right and crossed but then went down injured and was subbed a minute later with Grinny coming on. After 35, Longford broke from a Youths corner and it ended in a shot by a Longford forward with only Packie to beat but it smacked off the crossbar.

[ForzaForth]

Mark Phelan then came on for Shane Nolan at right-back and, with five to go in the half, Danny was sent clear and stuck it low to the Longford keeper's left for 1-0 to the Youths. Danny looked offside from where I was but others more in line said he was ok. A Longford free which went over from 25 yards out ended a quiet enough half with the Youths happy to go in one up. Second-half started poorly enough with the Youths looking comfortable and after twelve, Grinny came in from the left wing but put a well-struck shot a few yards wide. After 15, Cathal Brady came on for Longford. A bad backpass by the Youths then gifted a chance to Longford but the effort from near the corner of the box with only Packie to beat wasn't on target.

[ForzaForth]

Midway through the second-half, a corner by Longford gave Hyland a free header and he gave Packie no chance for 1-1. A Longford defender then picked up a yellow for a push on Grinny just outside the box and a second Longford player picked up another for a tackle on Mark Phelan. As the match entered the final 20, Wexford looked to be hanging on more and more and Longford became the much stronger side. With 20 to go, a poor defensive header by Wexford was volleyed sweetly first-time by Walsh for 2-1 to the away side.

[ForzaForth]

With ten to go, Craig got a yellow for dissent and Tom Elmes came on up front for Grinny. Tome's first touch was a header over from a cross by Karl. With four minutes of injury-time showing, Darragh got a straight red for following through studs up into a Longford defender clearing the ball and, after two minutes of injury-time, Shane gave way what seemed to be a harsh penalty, flagged by the linesman, for what appeared to be a handball when the ball bounced up and hit his arm as he attempted to clear. Purdy put the peno. away for 3-1 final score to Longford.

[ForzaForth]

Not the greatest game overall, but Longford's better passing and strength down the wings secured them the three points on the night. Wexford's performance wasn't a patch on the effort against Cork last week and they really seem to have a monkey on their backs at present in relation to playing at home as the Youth's game disimproved as the pressure on trying to secure the first home points of the season built up during the game. Best for Wexford were probably Murt and Karl at the back, Craig in midfield and Danny up front. About 200 attendance.