Athlone

[ForzaForth]

Comfortable win for the Youths tonight as, particularly in the second half, they created the better chances and managed to take them to head home with the three points. With Brian suspended, Shane Keegan reverted to CJ in the middle of the back four and also made a couple of changes in midfield with Graham in goal, a back four of Clarkey, Jamie, CJ and Corkey, Shane Nolan playing ahead of a midfield of Joey, Crokey, Eric and Rocks, and Danny up front on his own. Both sides showed plenty of endeavour in the first half but chances were at a premium on what looked like a lively pitch. After three, Rocks looked a bit unlucky to get a yellow after a high foot. After six, Danny was able to get a shot away with his left but Jennings in the Athlone goal was able to save comfortably. Two minutes later, a through-ball by Athlone had to be smothered by Graham and it eventually ended up in his arms a bit fortuitously. With twenty gone, a good move by the Youths from one end of the pitch to the othr ended up with a tame enough shot by Joey with his left foot on the turn. At the mid-point of the half, Last (?) was replaced alongside McCarthy in the middle of Athlone's back four due to injury. Two chances, one for either side, finished the half, the first being a header by Rocks onto Danny who shot just wide and then an Athlone header from a free-kick which Graham had to push round the post for a corner. Wexford found it difficult to clear that corner but eventually did so for 0-0 scoreline at half-time and perhaps shaded by the Youths but with very little between the two teams.

[ForzaForth]

Given the lack of chances in the first-half, the first goal looked as if it might settle it and it fell to the Youths after five minutes into the second period when Rocks got the ball at his feet on the left, was allowed turn inside and dribble without challenge to the edge of the box where he drilled one past Jennings for 1-0 o the away side. With credit to Athlone, they had a good spell thereafter but didn't manage to put Graham under too much pressure with the result that Wexford were able to hold on to their lead. However, after twenty, a dangerous cross from the left by Athlone was headed back towards the near post by an Athlone attacker, but it trickled wide beyond the far post with no Athlone attacker able to reach it. With 25 gone, Joey got a yellow for the Youths for a tackle and Caolan came on for Eric in midfield. This was followed by a yellow for the Athlone left-full for a pull-back.

[ForzaForth]

With fifteen to go, Wexford made the game safe with their second goal which came from a classic combination of a great headed knockdown by Rocks beyond the far-post from a free-kick leaving Danny to head the bouncing ball past the advancing Jennings for 2-0. Relihan and Conroy came on for Harney and the impressive Scullion for Athlone at this stage while, Tom and Glenn had also come on for Rocks and Shane. With five to go, a break by Danny and a great cross-field pass put Tom in the clear and he drilled one into the top right-hand corner for 3-0 to the Youths at full-time. Best for Wexford were CJ and Jamie who dealt comfortably with a lot of aerial stuff aimed in their direction all night. In general, Athlone only really threatened from set-pieces when they could get their centre-halves forward although Scullion did well down Athlone's right. Rocks had a tremendous game for the Youths and the only criticism you could make of him was that he gave away too many frees after his early yellow with the Athlone mentors calling for the ref. to give him a second yellow during the course of the second half. Otherwise, Danny also showed great feet at times up front while Crokey gave another encouraging performance in the engine-room. Overall, Athlone looked like a side who were short too many players with a Town supporter on the way out reckoning they were missing eight. 3-0 to the Youths at full-time.