Match Report - Bray Wanderers 5 Longford Town 2, Jun 19, 2026

 

 

 

 

Bray Wanderers produced a scintillating attacking display at the Carlisle Grounds on Friday night as they swept aside Longford Town 5-2 in a seven-goal thriller. 

 

The Seagulls were in dominant form throughout and were rewarded with a convincing victory that kept the home supporters entertained from start to finish. 

 

After an energetic opening, Bray took the lead on 22 minutes when Ben McCormack continued his impressive scoring form by finding the net to put the hosts ahead. The striker’s finish capped a strong start from the Seagulls, who looked dangerous whenever they moved forward. McCormack took a beautiful struck shot from a free kick after being fouled. Longford’s goalkeeper Kian Moore was sent off for a late tackle and Town were down to ten men. 

 

Longford emerged for the second half determined to respond and were back on level terms just three minutes after the restart. Andy Paraschiv struck in the 48th minute to make it 1-1 and briefly shift the momentum in the visitors’ favour. 

 

However, Bray’s response was immediate and emphatic. Tyreik Sammy restored the home side’s advantage on 53 minutes before McCormack grabbed his second goal of the evening just two minutes later to put daylight between the teams at 3-1. 

 

With Longford struggling to contain Bray’s attacking movement, the Seagulls continued to press forward. Their dominance was reflected on 64 minutes when Cian Doyle added a fourth goal, effectively ending any hopes of a Longford comeback. 

 

The visitors continued to battle and were rewarded late on when Cole Omorehiomwan pulled a goal back in the 86th minute. Any thoughts of a dramatic finish were quickly extinguished, though, as Alain Kizenga rounded off the scoring in the final minute to complete a memorable 5-2 victory. 

 

McCormack’s brace will rightly earn the headlines, but this was a complete attacking performance from Bray Wanderers, with Sammy, Doyle and Kizenga also getting on the scoresheet as the Seagulls overwhelmed their Midlands opponents. 

 

The result marked another significant statement from Bray as they continued their push towards the top end of the First Division table, while Longford were left to reflect on a difficult night defensively despite finding the net twice. 

 

The Seagulls move up into third place now after the win last night and Paul Heffernan’s men face a tough challenge next Friday as they play away to league leaders Cork City in the Munster FA Turners Cross Stadium. 

 

Details of a supporters bus will be announced on @1985_seagulls Instagram & Twitter channels. 

 

Bray Wanderers: Jimmy Corcoran; Alain Kizeng, Declan Osagie, Jamie Duggan, Dean O’Shea; John Bilili Sesay, Cian Doyle; Ifu Achara, Ben McCormack, Tyreik Sammy; Dan Ring . 

 

Subs: Richard Ferizaj for Sesay (64); Ryan Kelly for O’Shea (64); Ethan Cheese for Achara (72); Conor Knight for Sammy (77); Sean Brennan for McCormack (77). 

 

Longford Town: Kian Moore; Osaze Irhue, Jamie Egan, Taylor McCarthy, Jake Hough; Sean Moore; Pharrell Manuel, Alex O’Brien, Andy Paraschiv; Dean Williams, Daragh Murtagh. 

 

Subs: CJ Odum for Williams (21); Cole Omorehiomwan for Egan (73); Stefan Ugbesia for Murtagh (73); Dan McKenna for Paraschiv (73); Sultan Adenekan for Manuel (74). 

 

Attendance: 677 (official). 

 

Referee: Ryan Maher (Republic of Ireland) 

 

Photos by: Ethan Finnerty