On a balmy summer evening at Flancare Park, Longford Town emulated the opening UEFA Competition victories of Cork City and Shelbourne with a fine 2-0 success over Welsh Cup winners Carmarthen Town.

Carmarthen were quickly into their stride in this UEFA Cup qualifying round encounter and dominated the early stages of the match with two shots being blocked. As the first half wore on Longford raised their tempo and got to grips with the situation. They created a number of chances with shots from John Martin, Davy Byrne and Dean Fitzgerald going close.

As the opening goal had failed to arrive there were one or two anxious groans from the home supporters in the Flancare Park stands. The tension, however, was eased on 35 minutes when centre back Stephen Paisley netted a right foot volley from the edge of the area following an accurate cross from Fitzgerald.

Longford continued their good form during the second half and it was Paisley’s fellow central defender Barry Ferguson who scored in the 55th minute with a powerful header from an Alan Kirby corner to put them in a commanding position for the second leg to be played at Richmond Park, Carmarthen in two weeks time.

Caution became the order of the evening and Longford seemed to settle for their two goal margin although they were unlucky not to grab a third near the end when the visiting goalkeeper made a fine double save from Byrne and Martin.