Sport

Longford Town have one foot in the next round

UEFA Cup, first qualifying round, first leg Longford Town 2 Carmarthen Town 0 The virtue of patience preached pre-match by their…

Paul Buttner Flancare Park
Fri Jul 15 2005 - 01:00

UEFA Cup, first qualifying round, first leg Longford Town 2 Carmarthen Town 0 The virtue of patience preached pre-match by their manager, Alan Mathews, reaped its reward for Longford, who duly bided their time to lay the foundation for what should be a safe passage through to the second qualifying round of the Uefa Cup.

Though the scoreline far from suggests it, this should have been a rout as Longford utterly dominated the out-of-season part-timers from south Wales. The home team created a host of chances and really ought to have won by such a margin as to make the return in Newtown on July 28th a mere formality.

Save for a third-minute opening chance that necessitated a good parry save by Stephen O'Brien from Mark Dodds, Carmarthen were forced to defend en bloc for much of the game.

The first half-hour proved frustrating for Longford, who utterly dominated possession but could find no way past a packed defence - Davy Byrne twice had goal-bound shots deflected for the visitors' fourth and fifth corners as they laid virtual siege to the visitors' goal.

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Kevin Aherne-Evans then somehow got his body in the way to block another shot from Stephen Paisley just past the half-hour after a brilliant counterattack by Longford.

Paisley wasn't to be denied, however, as he finally brought Longford Town their reward with the lead goal on 35 minutes.

Again it stemmed from incisive approach play, once again down the right. Alan Murphy found Dean Fitzgerald, whose cross was delightfully side-footed home by Paisley off his weaker right foot for the left back's third goal in four games.

There was no let-up in Longford's dominance in the second half and they stretched their lead on 54 minutes. Alan Kirby's perfectly flighted delivery to the back post was met by Ferguson, whose header was placed inside the upright.

Carmarthen goalkeeper Tony Pennock prevented what looked a certain third goal on 74 minutes with a remarkable double stop.

LONGFORD TOWN: O'Brien; Murphy, Dillon, Ferguson, Paisley; Kirby, Fitzgerald (Prunty, 77 mins), Martin, Byrne; Myler (Baker, 86 mins), Keegan.

CARMARTHEN TOWN: Pennock; Carter, Cochlin, Giles, Lloyd; Aherne-Evans, Kennedy, Jones (James, 90 mins), Smothers (Hardy, 63 mins); Thomas, Dodds.

Referee: P Olsiak (Slovakia).