Shelbourne

[ForzaForth]

Intriguing match which stayed on a knife-edge throughout was finally decided in Wexford's favour by a set-piece in the final minute. Wexford started 4-5-1 with Graham, a back four of Craig, Killian, Lasty, Jimmy, a midfield five of Eric, Shane Dunne, a returning Craig Wall, Peter, Deano and with Danny up front. First half had relatively few chances although Wexford tested Murray in the Shelbourne goal a bit more than Graham was tested by Shelbourne. First decent effort on target was by Deano for the Youths after five, with Muray having to grab it at the second attempt. Little of note thereafter with Shane Dunne getting a yellow after 18 minutes. With 23 gone, a Shels corner hit long was knocked back into the penalty area, but the Shels effort on goal was deflected straight into Graham's hands. Just after the half-hour, Deano set up Danny for a first-time effort but he miscued it wide. With three minutes to go in the half, Tinnelly had a good run into the Wexford box, but his effort was wide. With two to go, the best chance of the half fell to Danny when Peter Higgins put Danny through but Murray saved his first-time volley with his legs for a corner. 0-0 at half-time and, as against Galway last week, it looked as if the team that could score first would be likely to hold the three points.

[ForzaForth]

Second half was more open with Shels looking dangerous when they got the ball on the break as their pacey forward-line looks the strongest part of the team. In the first minute, Deano nearly scored when Murray, the Shels keeper, punched a cross against Deano's head but it just didn't have enough pace to get over the line on the rebound. On eight minutes, Dylan Connolly, who was kept fairly quiet by Jimmy at left-back, had a good run into the box but shot over. On ten, Gannon picked up a yellow for a tackle. From the resulting free, Eric just couldn't manage to poke the ball home as it travelled past the far post. Midway through the half, Tinnelly had a good run down the left wing but his goal-bound effort was headed away by a Wexford defender. As the match passed 75 minutes, Wexford managed a couple of dangerous crosses as Craig, Shane and Peter started to boss the middle of midfield, but nothing came of them.

[ForzaForth]

With eleven minutes to go, Shels best chance of the game came about when an attacker won a header from a free, but it was kicked off the line by the last Wexford defender. With three minutes to go, Wexford made a triple substitution, with Ben, Skelly and Shane Nolan coming on for Deano, Craig Wall and Peter Higgins. Looked like a draw at that stage but both Ben and Skelly immediately started to have an effect down the left flank and, in the second minute of injury time, won a corner at the left stick. This was whipped in beautifully by Eric and Murray had a difficult job to punch, missed and the ball ended up just inside the top of the right hand post for 1-0 to the home side and jubilant celebrations. Match lasted only about 20 seconds after the kick-off by Shels to leave the final score at 1-0.

[ForzaForth]

Best for Wexford were Jimmy, who kept Connolly quiet, and the midfield trio of Craig, Peter and Shane while Killian and Lasty won everything in the air at the back. As mentioned, Shels strength is their forwards who have lots of pace but nothing broke for them on the night. Looked to be at least 350 at the match with good away support by Shels. Having Craig Wall back is a really strong addition, and he could be a key player for us for the remainder of the season.