Christian Magerusan and Beineon O’Brien Whitmarsh helped Longford Town to a 2-1 victory over Wexford.
The win was Longford’s first win in four and just their fifth win of the season writes Tony Ghee.
The best chance of a tepid opening 15-minutes fell to Longford, but Viktor Serdeniuk fired well over from distance.
The hosts had another opportunity five minutes later. Joshu Giurgi’s header from an O’Brien Whitmarsh cross was straight at Wexford keeper Noel Heffernan.
Wexford dominated the rest of the half and missed several chances to rattle the Town net.
On 24 minute, a mistake from Longford centre-half Cian Byrne allowed Brandon McCann to run onto a super ball from Darragh Levingston. McCann’s lob over the advancing Jack Brady sailed wide.
Wexford missed another great opportunity to take the lead just after the half-hour mark. Levingston put Aaron Dobbs clean through on goal, but his rushed shot was straight at Brady. The ball rebounded wide off the Wexford striker.
The visitors missed another gilt-edged chance just two minutes later. McCann’s perfectly weighted pass down the left released Dobbs. Whose pin-point low cross picked out Levingston at the back post. Levingston close-range strike was brilliantly saved by Brady.
Completely against the run of play, Longford took the lead on 38 minutes. Giurgi found O’Brien Whitmarsh 30-yards from goal and played a cleverly disguised pass to the overlapping Gavin O’Brien. O’Brien’s low cross was tapped home from close-range by Magerusan.
Wexford deservedly equalised just three minutes later courtesy of Danny Furlong. Reece Webb’s right-wing cross was flicked on by the head of Dobbs to the Wexford striker who converted from six-yards-out.
The last opportunity of the half came the way of the hosts deep into stoppage time. Doona’s corner was knocked on by Aaron Walsh, but Cian Byrne could only blaze over.
Improved Second-half
Stephen Henderson’s charges were the better side after the restart.
Longford deservedly regained the lead on 61 minutes. Magerusan’s ball across the Wexford box was fired home by O’Brien Whitmarsh.
Both sides failed to create anything of note thereafter.
Wexford were reduced to 10 men, three minutes from time, when Brandon McCann was shown a straight red card for a tussle with Cian Byrne.
The win lifts the Town up to eighth place in the table as they move ahead of Finn Harps on goal difference.
Longford Town (4-4-2): Brady, O’Brien (Boudiaf 81), Walsh, Byrne, O’Connor, Giurgi, Armstrong, Serdeniuk, Doona (Ibrahim 81), O’Brien Whitmarsh.
Wexford FC (4-4-2): Heffernan, Webb, Douglas (Fitzpatrick 81), Lynch, Crawford, Levingston, Piper, McCann, Corbally (Hanratty 21 (Doran 72)), Dobbs, Furlong.
Referee: Jason Moore.
