Waterford

[ForzaForth]

Battling effort from the Youths at the RSC tonight as they did just about enough to nullify a potent looking Waterford team to come away with the three points. Youths started with Graham, same back four of Peter, Killian, Lasty and Ryan, a midfield of Eric, Shane D., Shane N., and Ben and with Rocks trying to support Danny up front. First twenty was fairly even with first Waterford having a good chance from a corner after two minutes but Graham's quick reflexes allowing him to push the header over the bar for another corner. Two minutes later, Eric had a free header from a Wexford free into the box and Burns had to dive to his left to push it away. Two yellow cards then followed - one for Lasty for a tackle on Quilty and one for Gary Delaney for a tackle on Danny. Just before the 20 minute mark, Wexford went ahead when Danny was sent free down the left and he knocked it through the legs of the advancing Burns to put the Youths one up. Waterford mostly dominated the remainder of the half as Wexford were happy to knock the ball in the general area of Danny up front. On 22 minutes, a Waterford effort from 25 out went about a foot wide and Barrett got a yellow for simulation. Drohan was doing well, however, on the 17 year old Ryan and another good move from him down the right found a Waterford attacker free in the box but the first-time shot was easily held by Graham. With five to go, Peter Higgins got a yellow for a tackle and then Lasty could have got his second for another tackle but the ref leniently gave just a free. Remarkably, Wexford then finished the half with three half-chances when poor Waterford defending nearly allowed Wexford to go two ahead, but two efforts were wide and Burns saved Danny's effort with his legs while running in on goal along the end-line. 1-0 to the Youths at half-time.

[ForzaForth]

Second half surprisingly saw Drohan, who always impresses, switched to the left wing where he was most likely to have to come inside and as a result, Waterford didn't threaten as much during the first 15 minutes. During that time, Ben Ryan had a free-kick pushed away by Burns after Quilty got a yellow for a tackle. With a half-hour to go, Kynan Rocks and Jack Doherty came on for Meade and Quilty for Waterford and the Youth's Rocks picked up a yellow for a tackle. Six minutes later, Deano came on for a limping Ben Ryan and with twenty to go, WJ Kiely for Drohan for Waterford.

[ForzaForth]

With 19 minutes to go, Kynan Rocks put Doherty through on goal who tucked it past Graham but it was ruled out for offside. I was down the other end of the pitch but it looked very tight from where I was and generally thought that the linesmen were calling the offside when the ball arrived rather than when kicked.
When Wexford could get the ball to an attacker to run at the Waterford defence, however, it looked suspect and so it proved with five minutes to go when Deano ran into the heart of the Blues' defence with the ball at his feet and was able to run at Burns and finish neatly for 2-0. However, right on the 90 minutes, Waterford pulled one back when a far-post header by Kiely crept in at that post despite Graham's best efforts for 2-1. A nervous four minutes then followed for the away side with Daragh coming on to replace Danny to hold things up for a final score of 2-1 to Wexford.

[ForzaForth]

Best for Wexford were Peter Higgins and Killian Cantwell who both had stormers in the defence - ironically both former Waterford players, while the rest of the team worked their socks off and Danny posed a threat up front. As against Longford, the main problem was poor ball retention by the Youths and further work needs to be done to improve that aspect. 2-1 to Wexford at full-time.