Mooney strike helps Longford close gap

Longford Town 1 Bray Wanderers 0 : The season lingers on for Longford Town. This latest Flancare Park victory against Bray Wanderers closes the gap on both Galway and Waterford but with games running out Longford remain firm favourites to make the drop.

Dave Mooney pulled himself up from the ground to neatly tuck away a 17th-minute penalty after being fouled inside the area by Ronan Ivory. Dessie Baker should have doubled Longford's lead in the 42nd minute, but saw his effort brilliantly tipped over by Steve Williams.

However, it was all Bray in the second half and they should have been level in the 55th minute when Paul Dunphy saw his overhead kick come back off the crossbar. The ball rebounded to the striker but this time home defender Pat Sullivan was well positioned to clear off the line.

Home goalkeeper Shay Kelly made a vital save to deny Stephen Fox in the 68th minute while Kevin Doherty was well positioned to clear a Stephen Hurley lob off the line four minutes later.

LONGFORD TOWN : Kelly; Sullivan, Brennan, Doherty, Prunty (Ryan 39); Martin, Deegan, James, Duffy (Reilly 86); Mooney (Doyle 89), Baker.

BRAY WANDERERS : Williams; Ivory (McCabe 77), Delaney, Kenny, Cronin; Kavanagh, Tresson, Cawley, Hurley; Dunphy (O'Shea 70), Fox.

Referee: A Buttimer (Cork)

© 2007 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times