It was a late, late show at the Carlisle Grounds on Friday night as hometown hero Hugh Douglas popped up with a 93rd minute winner. Derek Daly had fired the Seagulls ahead after five minutes but Longford deservedly got back on level terms in sublime
It was a late, late show at the Carlisle Grounds on Friday night as hometown hero Hugh Douglas popped up with a 93rd minute winner.
Derek Daly had fired the Seagulls ahead after five minutes but Longford deservedly got back on level terms in sublime fashion through Dean Byrne.
Both sides seemed deadlocked until Luke Nolan had the misfortune to head into his own net five minutes from time but that was just the start of the drama as two-set piece goals won it for Bray. Cantwell netted on 88 minutes to level it and then Douglas popped up to barge home a header and send the home crowd into raptures.
Bray made the perfect start when a long ball wasn't dealt with and suddenly opened up for Joe Doyle. He took it round the out-rushing Lee Steacy but with the angle too narrow, he centred it to Derek Daly who bravely dived in to head it home.
Longford showed the first signs of their intent after eight minutes when Jamie Doyle’s clever footwork saw him able to unleash a shot in the area which was blocked. It spun into Dean Byrne’s path and he had the goal at his mercy but Luke Nolan did excellently to slide in and block it behind.
Longford were level on the half hour mark when the outstanding Aodh Dervin immediately sprung Hopkins forward with a lovely pass. He in turn pushed a pass out wide to Dean Byrne who danced up the left flank and glided past Luke Nolan before slotting a tidy finish under Gabriel Sava.
After a frantic first half, the second period was a slow burner but it burst into life when Sava took a short kick-out to Keegan who gifted it to Jamie Doyle. It looked inevitable that he’d bury the chance but Heaney bailed out his captain with an outstanding recovering tackle.
Longford always looked the more likely to win the contest and that seemed to be the case when a mix up between Luke Nolan and Sava saw the former head beyond his own keeper into an empty net.
Bray seemed done and dusted, but with two minutes left, a Barnett corner was flicked on by Keegan and Killian Cantwell was on hand to bury it at the far post.
It was to get better for the hosts when three minutes into stoppage time Bray were awarded another corner and Barnett’s delivery found Douglas – only on the pitch since the 88th minute – to nod home the most unlikely winner.
