Longford Town had to settle for a share of the spoils against Bray Wanderers at Bishopsgate as the contest finished in a 1-1 draw.
Town took the lead on ten minutes with a brilliant move. Gary Armstrong picked up possession inside the centre-circle and cleverly switched play to Shane Elworthy on the right.
The over-lapping defender delivered a superb cross into the box for Giurgi to side-foot home into the bottom corner.
Bray were playing the better football; on twenty-nine minutes, a 30-yard free from Joe Power sailed over the Town crossbar.
The visitors almost equalised just after the half-hour mark. Ger Shortt somehow headed a Power corner wide from the edge of the six-yard box.
Town almost doubled their lead on 35 minutes. Victor Serdeniuk saw his 25-yard deflected shot fly narrowly over the bar.
60 secons later, the visitors almost scored. Ben Feeney’s shot from inside the box was saved by Brady at his near post.
Bray had the final opportunity of the opening half on 43 minutes. Jake Walker ran between two Town defenders, but his low diagonal shot was stopped by Jack Brady.
The home side were much better in the second-half and were unlucky not to win the match.
On 64 minutes, a brilliant through-ball from Giurgi sent Aodh Dervin clear. His superb curling shot found the net only to be flagged for a debateable offside.
Three minutes later, Town’s Darragh Lynch surged past several Bray defenders but lost his balance when shooting for goal. Dane Massey cleared the ball off the line.
Another former Town player levelled the contest ten minutes from time. Feeney’s left-wing cross was brilliantly fired home by Conor Davis from sixteen yards out.
Nine minutes later, the Seagulls had a late chance to snatch a winner when they won a free-kick. Massey’s effort sailed narrowly over the Town bar.
Longford should have grabbed the winner deep into stoppage time. Adam Verdon’s floated free-kick was deflected into the path of Giurgi who’s shot came crashing off the crossbar.
The rebound was collected by Town substitute Mohammed Boudiaf just three yards out. He’d an open goal at his mercy but somehow, he blazed over the crossbar.
Longford Town (4-2-3-1): Brady, Elworthy, Walsh, Byrne, O’Connor, Verdon, Armstrong, Campbell, Dervin, Lynch, Giurgi.
Substitutes: Serdeniuk for Walsh (27 minutes), Boudiaf for Campbell (74 minutes), Ibrahim for Lynch (84 minutes).
Bray Wanderers (4-2-3-1): McGuinness, Murphy, Omorehiomwan, Hudson, Massey, Almirall, Power, Feeney, Craven, Shortt, Walker.
Substitutes: Lyons for Walker (45 minutes), Davis for Shortt (60 minutes), Donohue for Almirall, Lovic for Craven (both 76 minutes).
Referee: Michael Connolly.
