Shamrock Rovers B

[ForzaForth]

Late goal from man of the match, Danny Furlong, to complete his hat-trick, secured the three points for the Youths in Ferrycarrig tonight in a very entertaining game. However, Shane Keegan won't be at all happy as to how the Youths fell away in the second half after looking to be coasting at half-time. Wexford made one change from the team which started against Waterford with Deano starting in place of Ben Ryan and went with Graham, Peter, Killian, Lasty, Ryan, Eric, Shane N., Shane D., Rocks and Deano and Danny with a number of switches taking place subsequent to that. Wexford were slow out of the blocks and although Onwubiko started well on Rover's right but with the Hoops playing only one up front, there was little danger at Graham's goal during the first 15 minutes. First decent chance fell to Wexford after 17 minutes when a Youth's corner found Danny free in the middle of the box, but he flicked it just wide with his head. On 20 minutes, Treanor got a yellow for Rovers for a tackle and with little happening in either goal-mouth, the next event was on 35 minutes when Rocks also got a yellow for a tackle. Looked like a low-scoring game at that stage, but with five minutes to go, Danny was again left free by the Rover's defence at a corner and this time his header ended up in the corner of the net for 1-0 to the Youths.

[ForzaForth]

With a minute to go in the first period, a good passing movement by Wexford ended with Rocks sending Danny free down the left and in a mirror-image of his goal against Waterford, he was able to beat the Rover's keeper with a first-time shot with his left to put Wexford two up at the break. With Rovers hardly posing a threat, it looked a comfortable three points at this stage. Second half started in fairly nondescript manner but, after ten minutes, Rovers pulled a goal back out of the blue when Purdy picked up a loose ball just outside the box and drilled a low shot just inside the left-hand post for 2-1. This goal certainly seemed to put the confidence back into Rover's play and they threatened again on 17 minutes when a cross/lob dropped just over the bar with Graham beaten. With 20 gone in the half, Kavanagh and Sandford came on for Rovers. Five minutes later, Graham had to charge out of the goal to block a Rover's forward latching onto a through ball and it went away for a corner. With fifteen minutes to go, Skelly came on for Deano for Wexford and Killian did well to clear a Rover's effort off his own goal-line. Then, with 12 minutes to go, a Rovers attacker went down in the box with two Wexford defenders adjacent. Didn't seem to be much contact by anyone but the penalty was given and Lyons knocked it straight down the middle for 2-2.

[ForzaForth]

Wexford then started showing the urgency the performance in the second half had lacked and with ten to go, a long throw from Ryan reached Danny just beyond the far post and his effort was saved by the Rover's keeper with his legs for a corner. Craig Short then came on for the Youths and Confrey for Rovers. A good cross by Wexford was then nearly sliced into his own net by a Rover's defender but it went just over the corner of the goal for a Wexford corner. This led to a Wexford effort on goal which was just deflected over the bar for another corner on the other side. With the ninety minutes up, this corner was whipped into the near post and there was only one player charging intelligently towards that post to just get the touch and secure the three points - Danny for his hat-trick!

[ForzaForth]

Other than one corner for Rovers in injury time, Wexford looked comfortable enough to see out the remainder of the game for a final score of 3-2. With his use of the ball and finishing power, Danny was comfortably man of the match while Peter, Killian and Lasty also put in good shifts. Best for Rovers were Onwubiko and Purdy but, being a small side, Rovers looked vulnerable at set-pieces and in the air generally. General failure of the Youths was again giving the ball away too easily and dropping off the intensity in the second period which nearly proved catastrophic on the night. About 300 at it, I reckon, on a damp enough night.