1 v 2 
Bray WanderersVideo
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 March 2022 | 7:45 pm | LOI Men's First Division | 2022 |
Match Report
Bray bag first win of the season
Longford Town were made rue missed opportunities as Bray Wanderers recorded their first win of the season at Bishopsgate.
Town took the lead in the eighth minute through captain Sam Verdon but two defensive mistakes gifted Bray their two goals. Kurtis Byrne and Paul Fox both capitalising on poor clearances.
It was the home side that enjoyed the early chances with Sam Verdon’s glancing header going wide in the fourth minute after a fine ball in from Darren Craven. Bray could’ve opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Aaron Robinson cleared Rob Manley’s header off the line.
Town broke up the field and Craven scuffed his shot but the ball fell to Verdon and he made no mistake. Town had chances to double their advantage after that.
In the 11th minute Craven hit a low drive that just went wide. Dean McMenamy also had a chance while Ryan Graydon hit the crossbar with his effort in the 14th minute.
Town keeper Luke Dennison saved from Kevin Knight in the 17th minute and four minutes later the visitors were back on level terms. Dennison made a fine save to deny Manley, Town defender Mick McDonnell’s poor clearance fell to Kurtis Byrne and he finished from close range.
In an action packed first half Bray sub Vilius Labutis tried his luck but blasted the ball over the bar. Down the other end Eric Molloy’s pinpoint cross met the head of Craven but he directed his effort wide.
A ball over the top from Dylan Barnett fell nicely to Verdon in the 38th minute. His first touch was superb but his second let him down as he shot wide. Town were to rue those missed chances two minutes later when Bray took the lead.
Dennison again made a good save, this time to deny Byrne, the Town defence failed to clear the ball properly and Paul Fox picked it up and blasted to the net.
The second half was not as lively as the first. Bray were happy to sit on their lead while Town didn’t create many chances after the interval. Verdon brought a save out of McGuinness in the 49th minute.
Verdon squandered another chance in the 60th minute as McGuinness saved from him. Despite having possession Town didn’t test the Bray netminder much after that but he did bring off an excellent save to deny Aaron Robinson in the 78th minute.
Verdon put his effort wide in the 89th minute while Byrne had a chance to score his second goal and his side’s third one minute later but Dennison made an excellent stop to deny him.
In stoppage time Town huffed and puffed but couldn’t get an equaliser and Bray held on for the win.
Timeline
| 10. Sam Verdon | 8' | |
| 21' | 8. Kurtis Byrne | |
| 27' | Vilius Labutis Conor Clifford | |
| 27' | Conor Clifford Vilius Labutis | |
| 32' | 18. Zak O'Neill | |
| 37' | 28. Darragh Livingston | |
| 5. Michael McDonnell | 47' | |
| 14. Michael Barker | 63' |
Past Meetings
|
(Series 12)
3 - 0LOI Men's First Division
Carlisle Grounds Bray Wanderers v Longford Town |
|
(Series 3)
0 - 2LOI Men's First Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town v Bray Wanderers |
2LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town FC v Bray Wanderers FC |
7:45 pmLOI Men's Premier Division
Carlisle Grounds Bray Wanderers FC v Longford Town FC |
1 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town FC v Bray Wanderers FC |
1LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town FC v Bray Wanderers FC |
1LOI Men's Premier Division
Carlisle Grounds Bray Wanderers FC v Longford Town FC |
2LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town FC v Bray Wanderers FC |
Ground
| Bishopsgate, Longford |
|---|
| City Calling Stadium, L50021, Mullolagher, Cloondara ED, Longford Municipal District, County Longford, Leinster, Ireland |
Deniese O'Flaherty
Deniese is a freelance sports journalist/broadcaster. She has worked for several local and national media outlets. GAA and soccer are her great loves and she also follows rugby league and snooker. She's a big supporter of her local clubs St. Mary's GAA Granard and Longford Town. She also follows Celtic, Liverpool and Leeds Rhinos. She presented and produced a popular sports podcast last year where she interviewed Ray Houghton, Chris Kamara and John Hartson. Deniese is currently Head of Communications for Boccia Ireland
And that's that
And that's that
Callum Warfield hesitated and should've taken the shot first time. He played in back to Aaron Robinson but it goes over the bar. Not for a point.
Rob Manley working his socks off tonight. It hurts Town supporters seeing him play for another team.
And the visitors nearly get a third. Kurtis Byrne with the effort and an excellent save from Luke Dennison
Ben Lynch with a cross and Sam Verdon puts it wide. Stephen McGuinness looked to have it covered
No urgency from the home side in this half
Paul Fox
Darragh Lynch
Eoin Massey gets booked because he came on the field of play before he was allowed.
Eric Molloy
Callum Warfield
Aaron Robinson with a great strike and Stephen McGuinness is equal to it. Good save.
Some of the Town's passing is poor.
Town not creating as many chances in this half like they did in the first
Not too many chances being created.
Zak O'Neill
Daniel Blackbyrne
Michael Barker gets booked.
Michael Barker gets booked.
The home side have started this half well. It's baffling how they have only scored one goal
Sam Verdon with the shot from close range but it's saved by Stephen McGuinness
A great tackle on Rob Manley by Mick McDonnell. He needed to time that so well
Ryan Graydon is involved in so much tonight
Poor ball into the box from Ryan Graydon. He is human after all
Kurtis Byrne gets booked for protesting too much
Great play from Ryan Graydon, he does very well to play the ball back to Verdon but his effort was saved by Stephen McGuinness
McDonnell gets booked for hauling down Rob Manley
Rob Manley win's a free. Oh how Town miss him
Luke Dennison comes out of his goal to stop Rob Manley in his tracks. It looked like he handled the ball outside the box. A let off. Poor defending again
Luke Dennison pulls off a fine save to deny Kurtis Byrne a second goal, the Town once again fail to clear the danger properly, it falls to Paul Fox and he made no mistake
Paul Fox puts Bray ahead.
Sam Verdon somehow misses after a terrific ball over the top by Barnett.
Yellow card for Darragh Levingston
Another chance goes abegging for Town. Good ball in from the right from Eric Molloy, met the head of Darren Craven and he somehow directed it wide.
A yellow for Zak O'Neill for a foul on Dean McMenamy
Vilius Labutis with an effort that goes over.
Vilius Labutis is on for the injured Conor Clifford
Luke Dennison saves from Rob Manley, the ball is cleared by Mick McDonnell but only to the feet of Kurtis Byrne and he fires to the net
Town keeper Luke Dennison with a save from Kevin Knight
Ryan Graydon so unlucky that his effort hit the crossbar.
Darren Craven with a low drive that just goes wide.
That goal from Sam Verdon is Town's first goal of the season.
Sam Verdon with a goal against his former side. The break from Bray's chance. Good play from Ryan Graydon.
Rob Manley's header is cleared off the line. Looked like Aaron Robinson with the clearance.
Dean McMenamy clears the ball for a Bray corner.
Sam Verdon's glancing header goes wide after a lovely ball in from Darren Craven.
Great covering from Zak O'Neill as Ryan Graydon made a good run
Bray win the first corner of the game
Bray get the game underway
Bray's Darragh Levingston makes his debut tonight.
Town have only played one game so far this season that was a 0-0 draw with Cork City while Bray have played three and lost the three. They'll hope to kickstart their season tonight
Plenty of former players as well as a former manager here tonight. Gary Cronin was manager of Wanderers will there are playing with have donned both the red and black and the green and white stripes
Good evening and welcome to this evening's game between Longford Town and Bray Wanderers. I'm Deniese O'Flaherty and will be taking you through proceedings.