Longford Town manager Neale Fenn was satisfied and relieved in equal measures as his side eked out a 2-1 win over Wexford FC in Ferrycarrig Park on Friday evening. The midlanders switched ends holding a 1-0 advantage thanks to a goal from debutant S
Longford Town manager Neale Fenn was satisfied and relieved in equal measures as his side eked out a 2-1 win over Wexford FC in Ferrycarrig Park on Friday evening.
The midlanders switched ends holding a 1-0 advantage thanks to a goal from debutant Sam Verdon and looked to be in complete control when Tristan Noack-Hofmann doubled their lead early in the second half.
The visitors even went close to adding a third goal on 65 minutes, but Jake Kelly's curling effort went the wrong side of the left upright.
However, an opportunistic long-range strike from Thomas Croke on 69 minutes, followed by the dismissal of Kealon Dillon seven minutes later set up a nervy finish and Fenn was happy just to get over the line in the end.
“At 2-0 up I though we were cruising. We created a few chances and limited their chances and then we switched off from a throw and they scored a goal. We had looked good up until that point but that changed the dynamic of the game,” he said.
Even worse was to come for Longford with Dillon receiving his marching orders, minutes after being introduced from the substitutes' bench and the 40-year-old boss admitted that they felt the pressure after they were reduced to ten men.
“After the sending off happened, it was backs to the wall a little bit. We were under the cosh a lot when we shouldn't have been but thankfully it didn't cost us the three points,” he said.
He was impressed with how they dug their heels in though, and despite being a man down managed to negotiate the last 15 minutes without allowing Wexford to manufacture any clear-cut openings.
“Thankfully we were able to see it out and it's another three points on the board,” he said.
