Longford Town 0-3 Waterford United
Saturday, 27 September 2008 22:24Waterford United kept the pressure on Dundalk in the battle for the First Division title when they cruised to a comfortable win over Longford Town at Flancare Park.
Waterford's goals came from Kenny Browne (22 mins), Gary Dunphy (60 mins) and David Grincell (89 mins).
A small attendance, in the region of 300, watched Waterford collect another three league points in their quest for the sole promotion spot.
However, it was the home side, unbeaten in their previous three games under caretaker manager Vinny Perth, who almost hit the front when Luke Hardy directed a close-range shot narrowly wide in the 16th minute.
However, the visitors broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute when central defender Kenny Browne knocked a downward header into the back of the net after rising high above the Longford defence to connect with a Dave Warren free-kick.
Waterford almost doubled their advantage in the 40th minute when David Grincell pulled a shot just off target when put through by Luke Fitzpatrick.
A Vinny Sullivan strike was cleared off the line in the early stages of the second half with pleas for a hand ball turned down in the same attack. However, the killer second goal eventually arrived in the 60th minute.
After the Waterford keeper Packie Holden had produced a fine save to keep out a long- range effort from Alan Lynch, Longford conceded a penalty when their keeper Neil Gallagher brought down Fitzpatrick in the box.
Substitute Dunphy made no mistake from the spot-kick and ended the game as a contest.
Longford's tale of woe was complete in the 89th minute when David Grincell drilled the ball low into the corner of the net after he was put clean through by Kevin Waters.
LONGFORD TOWN: Gallagher; Hardy, Bermingham, Doyle, Frawley, O'Riordan; Murphy, Harte, Rushe; Lynch, Oladele.
Subs:- McKenna for Murphy (ht); Douglas for Rushe (61 mins).
WATERFORD UNITED: Holden; Quigley, Hayes, Browne, Clarke; Fitzpatrick, Warren, Waters, Foley; Grincell, Sullivan.
Subs:- Dunphy for Foley (inj, 32 mins); Fitzgerald for Hayes (64 mins); Bermingham for Sullivan (80 mins).
Referee: D Tomney (Dublin).
