Mervue Utd’s exploits handing FAI a major headache

Mervue United 1

Longford Town 0

Mervue United were the victors on Friday night, but you have to wonder if it was Longford Town who were the real winners in the first-leg of the Airtricity League First Division play-off in Fahy’s Field.

The home side were utterly dominant, but in the end had to settle for just a single goal advantage to take to City Calling Stadium this Friday night, despite playing against 10 men for three-quarters of the game.

Jason Molloy scored the only goal of the game, an absolute peach of a strike from out on the right measuring all of 30 yards which Longford ’keeper Chris Bennion could only watch and admire as it whistled past him and curled inside the far post.

It was a goal good enough to win any game – the problem is, that’s just what it was. Mervue should this week be looking up hotels to book their pre-match meal for the Premier Division play-off with either Bray Wanderers or UCD, with the upcoming second leg being nothing more than an exercise in professionalism.

But instead, Johnny Glynn must draw up a game plan to ensure his side take what is – on the evidence of Friday night at least – a deserved spot in the Premier Division play-off, and create a massive headache – and potential PR disaster – for the FAI.

The home side had 11 shots on target on Friday night; Longford, who finished above them in the league, tested Conor O’Malley just the once. The visitors’ cause wasn’t helped by the 26th minute dismissal of skipper, Corie Treacy; nor the injury blow to Rhys Gorman, who was forced to pull out of the starting XI when breaking down in the pre-match warm-up.

But make no mistake, Longford were a distant second in a two-horse race in Fahy’s Field– the trick for Mervue United now is to hammer home their clear superiority when the two sides meet in the second leg this Friday night.