Longford set to progress

Carmarthen Town (0) v Longford Town (2) Latham Park, Newtown, Wales Kick-off: 7

Carmarthen Town (0) v Longford Town (2) Latham Park, Newtown, Wales Kick-off: 7.30Negotiating a safe passage through to the second qualifying round of the Uefa Cup in central Wales tonight will continue the rags-to-relative-riches evolution of Longford Town. Current Derry City boss Stephen Kenny guided the club from the depths of the First Division into the Premier and then Europe for the first time. But Alan Mathews has overseen further substantial success over the last two years.

Mathews, Dermot Keely's former assistant at Shelbourne, has won two FAI Cups and a League Cup, and led the club to fourth and fifth place finishes in the Premier Division in his first full managerial post.

"Winning through this wouldn't compare to the FAI Cup or League Cup, because when you win those you have a medal at the end of it," said Mathews. "This is less defined. But winning through tonight would be further progress."

Longford will be determined to defend well, especially early on in the match, so as not to allow Carmarthen any hope of getting back into the tie.

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"We want to approach the game as if we're going to win the tie," said Mathews. "They are going to throw a lot of stuff at us early on, but we will deal with that. We want to get the next goal in this tie to kill it off. I don't see it as us leading 2-0.

"The approach we're taking is that we are going into the game at 0-0. We're quite capable of coming over here and getting the required result."

Mathews has a fully-fit squad to choose from. Carmarthen have been refused permission to have recent signing, striker Craig Hughes, released from Prescoed Prison to play in the game. Hughes is nearing the end of a 33-month sentence for football violence. Former St Patrick's Athletic and Drogheda striker Tony Bird, won't feature either as manager Mark Jones said he hasn't "seen enough of him".