Athlone

[ForzaForth]

Comfortable win for the away side tonight as Youths coughed up several chances early on to Athlone and then never really threatened to get back into the game even after Athlone went down to ten men. Youths made four changes from the team which started against Cobh with Shane, CJ, Jimmy and Caolan coming in and began with Graham, Brian, Jamie, CJ, Jimmy, Joey, Caolan, Shane, Glenn, Rocks and with Deano up front. Youths started the brighter and after five Rocks set up Joey whose effort was pushed away for a corner by Skinner in the Athlone goal. However, Athlone then scored with their first attack when a good free into the box found Coombes who scored with a free header for 1-0 to Athlone. On fifteen, Athlone then had another good chance when a simple long ball created a one-on-one but Graham managed to block away the effort for a corner.On seventeen, a good shot from the edge of the box by Athlone was pushed out by Graham leaving Coombes with an easy finish for 2-0 to Athlone. Midway through the half, Deano got through but his shot deflected off Skinner's legs for a corner.

[ForzaForth]

After the half-hour, Rocks got a yellow for a tackle. With ten to go, the useful Dixon got down the right for Athlone and his low cross was nearly touched in at the near post by an Athlone attacker but went just wide for 2-0 at half time. Youths picked up the pace in the second half and, after four, Deano had a low shot which went just wide. Ref. then flashed a yellow apiece for pushing while waiting for a corner to come in from Athlone. Youth's execution remained poor, however, and clear chances were scarce. Midway through the second, Clancy got a straight red for Athlone for a studs-up challenge on Shane. However, while the effort was there, inability to create in the final third remained the Youth's main problem against the ten of Athlone and the only chances which fell to Wexford in the final twenty were one for Joey who shot wide when well-placed and a good run by Brian which ended which another shot over the bar. Last chance fell to Deano in the four minutes of injury time with another shot wide.

[ForzaForth]

As was the case last week, Wexford's general play wasn't of a good enough standard to trouble the opposition sufficiently seriously although the effort was there. Best for Wexford were probably the Nolan twins while Dixon was Athlone's best outfield player for the hour he was on before being substituted. Skinner also looked useful between the sticks for the Town. 2-0 at full-time with about 160, including season tickets, at it.