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Details

Date Time League Season
18 April 2022 3:30 pm LOI Men's First Division 2022

Match Report

Craven grabs late Longford winner in Bray

Darren Craven came back to haunt his former club as Longford Town snatched a dramatic winner at the Carlisle Grounds.

Despite dominating early proceedings the home side went behind in the 54th minute; Dean McMenamy’s free kick met the head of Michael Barker who powerfully headed to the net.

Bray drew level in the 83rd minute when Kurtis Byrne’s corner fell to Rob Manley and his effort got a deflection to the net. Town stole all three points in the third minute of stoppage time. Joe Power released Craven and he shot low to the net.

The home side started with a real purpose.In the fifth minute a free from Callum Thompson met the head of Daniel Blackbyrne at the far post but he directed his effort wide.

Two minutes later Darragh Levingston’s header just went inches wide as the home side piled on the pressure.In the 22nd minute Levingston had a shot that got a deflection and Luke Denniston was able to gather. 

The visitors struggled to get into the game and created a few half chances but nothing to trouble Stephen McGuinness in the home goals. The home side had a great chance to break the deadlock in the 47th minute; Thompson with the cross to Darragh Lynch but he put his effort over the bar from close range.

Wanderers were to rue that missed chance because seven minutes later the visitors took the lead through Barker. Keith Dalton had a shot minutes later but Dennison made a comfortable save. On 71 minutes Waters put in a cross but substitute Manley directed his header just wide. Minutes later Sam Verdon had a shot saved by McGuinness the rebound fell to Eric Molloy but somehow he missed it. It would've been easier to score.

Bray were level on 83 minutes. The home side went in search of a late winner. With most of the Bray players in the visitors half the Town broke deep in stoppage time with Power setting up Craven to grab the winner. Wanderers were reduced to 10 before the end when Paul Fox was red carded.

Bray Wanderers

1Stephen McGuinness Goalkeeper
2Daniel Blackbyrne Defender
3Kevin Knight Defender
7Keith Dalton 18 Midfielder
10Kieran Marty Waters 21 Forward
11Paul Fox Midfielder
12Jack Hudson Defender
24Darragh Lynch 9 Forward
27Callum Thompson Midfielder
27Dean Zambra Midfielder
28Darragh Livingston 8 Midfielder 57'
5Hugh Douglas Defender
8Karl Manahan 28 Forward
8Kurtis Byrne 7 Forward
9Rob Manley 24 Forward 79'
18Zak O’Neill 7 Midfielder
19Vilius Labutis Midfielder
21Conor Knight 10 Midfielder
25Michael Kelly Goalkeeper
32Ugo Anny Nzekwue Forward

Longford Town

18Luke Dennison Goalkeeper
2Shane Elworthy Defender
3Dylan Barnett Defender
4Aaron Robinson 19 Midfielder
7Ryan Graydon 17 Forward
8Darren Craven Midfielder 93'
10Sam Verdon Forward
11Eric Molloy 21 Forward
14Michael Barker Defender 54'
20Dean McMenamy Midfielder
23Ben Lynch Midfielder
1Lee Steacy Goalkeeper
5Michael McDonnell Midfielder
9Joe Doyle Forward
17Matthew O’Brien 7 Midfielder
19Karl Chambers 4 Forward
21Joe Power 11 Midfielder
22Matthew Dunne Defender
30Adam Hayden Goalkeeper
Cristian Magerusan Forward
  • 96'

    Kurtis Byrne is has been given a yellow

  • 93'

    Paul Fox is set off here. We\'d a bit of a schmozle here

  • 93'

    Darren Craven comes back to haunt his former side. A great finish from the player. Shooting low to the net from distance.

  • 89'

    Eric Molloy makes way

  • 89'

    Joe Power is on for the visitors

  • 85'

    Good play from Bray and Callum Thompson is released but his effort is saved by Dennison

  • 79'

    It looks like Bray's equaliser was an own goal but we are giving it to Manley. Very hard to see.

  • 78'

    Kieran Marty Waters is off

  • 78'

    Conor Knight is on for Wanderers

  • 76'

    Sam Verdon with a shot that is saved by McGuinness the rebound falls to Eric Molloy but somehow he misses it. It would've been easier to score

  • 71'

    Marty Waters with the cross and Rob Manley unfortunately puts his effort just wide

  • 68'

    The home side are working hard to try and get back into this game.

  • 65'

    The injured Ryan Graydon is off

  • 65'

    Matthew O'Brien is on for Town

  • 64'

    Keith Dalton is off

  • 64'

    Zak O'Neill is the third change for Bray

  • 64'

    Darragh Levingston makes way

  • 64'

    Karl Manahan on for the home side

  • 64'

    Darragh Lynch the player to go off

  • 64'

    Rob Manley on for Bray

  • 62'

    Keith Dalton takes the ball down and has a shot but Dennison dives to make a comfortable save

  • 58'

    From that free Ryan Graydon misses a great opportunity to double his side's advantage. The ball is cleared off the line for a corner

  • 57'

    Darragh Levingston gets booked for a foul on Shane Elworthy

  • 55'

    A free from Dean McMenamy met the head of Michael Barker and he powerfully headed to the net

  • 54'

    Michael Barker puts the visitors ahead here. Totally against the run of play overall but the Town have been better in this half

  • 47'

    Darragh Lynch with a poor miss for Wanderers. Put his effort over the bar from close range.

  • 45'

    Half-time whistle goes here

  • 41'

    Town win a free. Dean McMenamy takes it and plays it right at a Bray defender and it's easily booted down the pitch.

  • 37'

    Sam Verdon sees McGuinness out of his box, puts in a cross but there is no one there to turn it in

  • 36'

    Plenty of passing but no chances created. Town have yet to test Bray keeper Stephen McGuinness.

  • 30'

    This is a poor encounter.

  • 22'

    Levingston with a shot that Luke Dennison gathers easily

  • 20'

    The sun is beginning to appear here. Hopefully the visitors will too.

  • 18'

    The visitors have created nothing of note.

  • 16'

    The injured Aaron Robinson comes off

  • 16'

    Karl Chambers on for the Town

  • 7'

    Darragh Levingston with a header that just goes narrowly wide. The home side have started with a real purpose here.

  • 5'

    A free from Callum Thompson meets the head of Daniel Blackbyrne at the far post but he puts his effort wide.

  • 1'

    Marty Waters gets to the endline and puts in a cross but it\'s clear by a Town player.

  • Cristian Magerusan is on the bench for the Town this afternoon after returning from injury

  • Plenty of former players in each side with Gary Cronin the Town manager previously in charge here in Bray.

  • Oh I do like to be beside the seaside.. Eh not on a day like this. We've had rain and hailstones here at the Carlisle Grounds.

  • Welcome to Final Whistle's coverage of Bray Wanderers v Longford. I'm Deniese O'Flaherty and will take you through all the action.

Past Meetings

(Round 5)
1 - 2
LOI Men's First Division
Bishopsgate, Longford

Longford Town v Bray Wanderers

(Series 12)
3 - 0
LOI Men's First Division
Carlisle Grounds

Bray Wanderers v Longford Town

(Series 3)
0 - 2
LOI Men's First Division
Bishopsgate, Longford

Longford Town v Bray Wanderers

2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford

Longford Town FC v Bray Wanderers FC

7:45 pm
LOI Men's Premier Division
Carlisle Grounds

Bray Wanderers FC v Longford Town FC

1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford

Longford Town FC v Bray Wanderers FC

1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford

Longford Town FC v Bray Wanderers FC

1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Carlisle Grounds

Bray Wanderers FC v Longford Town FC

2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford

Longford Town FC v Bray Wanderers FC

Ground

Carlisle Grounds
Carlisle Grounds, Seapoint Road, Bray No 2, The Municipal District of Bray, County Wicklow, Leinster, A98 T9D9, Ireland

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