Match Report - Longford Town 1 Bray Wanderers 0

 

Bray’s recent two-game winning streak in the SSE Airtricity First Division came to an end with a disappointing 1-0 loss away to Longford. 

Despite dominating possession - and chances -, the Seagulls suffered a second one goal defeat to the Midlanders this season when going down on Friday at Bishopsgate. 

It was a game in which the visitors were well in control. 

But unlike the recent success over Treaty United, the Green and White’s didn’t take their chances. 

Instead, the ‘Town took their opportunity. And then put in a defensive shift, rode their luck a little and held out for a clean sheet. 

Wanderers final ball was also disappointing. Too many times, crosses from the flanks went out of play, or were cut out by the home defence. 

There were two turning points in the contest. 

The second period was only in the 47th minute when the hosts sent over a free near the right corner flag. However, referee Mark Moynihan had his back to play when the ball came into the box. 

With the ball dropping in the six-yard area, he blew his whistle – with Bray players leaving the ball go out of play. 

Inexplicably, the match official awarded a corner. 

However, just seconds later, the corner was taken. Yet, the referee again had his back to play as looking towards the dug-outs. 

Summoned by fourth official Alan Patchell, he ran across the pitch and produced a red card for Lorcan Fitzgerald. 

Then in the 65th minute, Shane Griffin’s sliding tackle on the breaking Francis Campbell just outside right of the penalty area saw the midfielder appear to win the ball first. 

But the match official awarded a free-kick and booked the Bray player. 

To compound matters, Daniel Norris curled the free around the wall and just inside the left hand post. 

Remarkably – it was the Midlanders only shot in the second half. 

Wanderers made one change for the team who’d defeated Treaty. 

Griffin made his first start since last June, replacing John O’Sullivan who was on Republic of Ireland U19 duty. 

With Billy O’Neill also away with the Irish U17’s, fellow Academy graduates Luke Smith and Rhys Knight came in amongst the substitutes. 

The Red and Black’s only opportunity of note in the first half came in the 16th minute. 

Norris was played in off the left of the box by Ross Fay. But Jimmy Corcoran easily gathered low at his near post. 

What chances came after that went the Wicklow outfit’s way. 

Zach Nolan’s 23rd minute throw in the left of the halfway line saw Kieran Cruise spin away from a tackle. He passed infield to Ben Feeney. He then cut away from three opponents to unleash a 22-yard drive that was parried out by Harry Halwax. 

Seconds later, the Seasiders spurned the opening to take the lead. 

Kilian Cantwell’s clearance on the halfway dropped just outside the home 18-yard area. Eric Yoro misjudged the bounce which allowed Feeney to nip in. But the striker was thwarted by Halwax who made his body big to make the point-blank block. 

Guillermo Almirall got his 25-yard free up and over the wall. But dipped too late as it went over the bar in the 40th minute. 

Then in the 42nd minute, Griffin whipped in a bending free from the left wing., Cole Omorehiomwan glance a header that bounced down and up just past the far post. 

The same trend of Bray being in control continued after the turnaround. 

Cruise saw his low effort from 15-yards blocked out for a corner by Jamie Egan’s sliding challenge, 

After falling behind, the visitors best opportunity to equalise came in the 74th minute. 

Sub Callum Thompson and Harry Groome combined to pick out Darren Craven 30-yards out. He struck a thunderous effort that Halwax got a feint touch to fingertip the ball onto the post. 

Two minutes later, Omorehiomwan intercepted just inside the opposition half. He evaded two challenges and fed Feeney. The attacker span off a challenge and played a reveres ball to set-up Cristian Magerusan off the left inside the penalty area. But the substitute drilled into the side netting. 

 

Longford Town: Harry Halwax; Shane Elworthy (Jordan Tallon 80), Jamie Egan, Eric Yoro, Kyle O'Connor; Viktor Serdeniuk, Emre Topcu; Karl Chambers (90 + 3), Ross Fay (Emmanuel James 71), Daniel Norris; Francis Campbell (Jordan Adeyemo 71). 

 

Subs not used: Oisin Hand, Chris Lotefa, Carl Lennox, Ryan Boyle, Jack McCarthy. 

 

Booked: Chambers 29, Norris 36, Topcu 79. 

 

Bray Wanderers: James Corcoran; Max Murphy, Kilian Cantwell, Cole Omorehiomwan, Zach Nolan; Harry Groome, Shane Griffin (Cristian Magerusan 70); Guillermo Almirall (Callum Thompson 63), Darren Craven, Kieran Cruise; Ben Feeney. 

 

Subs not used: Jamie Duggan, Luke Smith, Zayd Abada, Conor Knight, Josh McGlone, Rhys Knight, Stephen McGuinness. 

 

Booked: Griffin 66. 

 

Sent off: Lorcan Fitzgerald 47. 

 

Referee: Mark Moynihan (Dublin) 

 

Pictures: Vincent Kirwan.