Waterford

[ForzaForth]

Concession of two soft goals by the Youths resulted in the three points going to the Blues in what wasn't a high quality match. With the two head-clashers from last week unavailable, Youths started with the same
4-1-4-1 formation with Graham in goal, Shane Dempsey in front of a back four of Brian, Jamie, CJ and Corkey, Danny, Craig, Patsy and Deano in midfield, and Rocks up front on his own. First twenty minutes was poor enough. After five, Ben Ryan had to go off for Waterford when he seemed to do an ankle while jumping to head a ball with McGrath coming on in his place. First decent shot was after ten when the ball broke to Keegan in the Youths' box but his first-time shot was gathered easily by Graham. After 18, Brian got a yellow for kicking a ball away and the Youths still finding it difficult to create anything. However, after 22, a quick free-kick from the right by Waterford found Maguire all on his own in the box and while Graham parried the header, he was helpless to stop Maguire pushing home the rebound for 1-0 to the away side.

[ForzaForth]

Patsy then picked up a yellow for dissent and Burns got a yellow for a tackle on Rocks. With the half-hour gone, Youths got a goal from their only chance of the half when Rocks managed to latch onto a through-ball, got the touch just before Packie inside the box and got flattened by Packie as a result. Ref gave only a yellow as it was fairly wide of the goal. Danny's peno was pushed out by Packie, but Deano smacked home the rebound for 1-1. Waterford finished the half with two efforts when a long free-kick by Packie was headed just wide of the Youth's goal by a big Blues' defender and then Phelan had a reasonable stab at a volley when wide of the goal on the left but he couldn't keep it on target for 1-1 at half-time with the Youths pleased to be going in on equal terms.

[ForzaForth]

The second-half was even worse than the first with neither side able to create much. After 8 minutes, Patsy had an overhead volley which went wide. Craig then picked up a yellow for a tackle on Maguire. With 20 gone in the half, Tom Elmes came on for Deano and went up front with Rocks going wide left where he looked more comfortable. Tom immediately set up Danny for a difficult chance but his first-time left-footed shot went wide. Gary Dempsey then went off injured for Waterford and Tom pulled a decent save from Packie with a shot from just outside the box. However, with ten to go, some suicidal defending by the Wexford defence on their left allowed Maguire a free run in on goal. His shot was pushed away by Graham but left Keegan an easy tap-in for 2-1 to the away side. Late subs for Wexford were Crokey and new signing, Mulcahy, for Danny and Patsy.

[ForzaForth]

Wexford couldn't do anything in the six minutes of injury time with the final result of 2-1 to Waterford. Wexford had a good spell when Tom came on up front and Rocks moved wide left and I'm sure Shane Keegan will learn from that but otherwise it was fairly scratchy by the home side. Miles in front of everyone on the pitch in terns of technique and touch was Maguire for Waterford and, if he has an engine, he'll surely go far. Best for Wexford were probably Deano and Brian with Tom looking dangerous when he came on but overall it wasn't a good performance by the home side. About 360 at the match, I reckon.