Athlone Town

[ForzaForth]

For anyone interested, it's planned to have audio commentary on tonight's match at the new Mixlr link below.

www.mixlr.com/wexfordfc

[ForzaForth]

Not the result Wexford wanted in Ferrycarrig tonight but a reasonably encouraging performance by the home side on the night. However, the concession of two soft goals to Athlone in the first half left Wexford which too much to do in the second forty-five. Wexford began with Graham in goal, Ricky, Ross, Owen, Andy, Mark Slater, Crokey, Craig Wall, Duxey, Sean Hurley and with Lee Duffy up front. The pitch was in good condition and Wexford started brightly and showed the better energy early on. On five minutes, a good cross came into Athlone's box, but the tall Labuts in the Athlone goal was able to hang on to it. First decent effort from Athlone came on 28 minutes when a long speculative shot from 40 yards out went about a foot over the corner of the goal. On 29 minutes, Crokey had a shot blocked for Wexford when well set-up by a good move. However, Athlone were gifted a goal on 35 minutes when hesitancy in the Wexford defence allowed Viegas to run between the last defender and Graham Doyle and tap home for 1-0 to Athlone. Athlone have a real aerial threat up front with the very tall Lyons and Coss and far too much space was given to Coss to head home a free header a minute before half-time to put the away side 2-0 in front. Wexford had shown plenty of energy in the first half but not shown a real attacking edge with the result that Labuts had rarely been called into action. 2-0 to Athlone at half-time.

[ForzaForth]

Wexford continued to show high energy in the second half and got a good number of crosses into the Athlone box but chances rarely ensued and Damian Locke may need to work on this aspect of Wexford's game in forthcoming matches. On the hour mark, Adam Hanlon came on for Mark Slater on the right-wing for Wexford. Three minutes later, the ball came out from the Athlone box to Wexford's Ricky Fox at right-full and he smashed a 25-yarder past Labuts to bring Wexford back into the game at 1-2. Wexford were close to adding a second just after when the ball ricocheted all over the Athlone six yard box, but it was eventually diverted for a Wexford corner. With 22 minutes to go, John McKeown came on in place of Craig Wall for Wexford. Even in a crowded penalty area, Coss was still able to dominate in the air, and he nearly put Athlone 3-1 ahead from an Athlone corner with 15 minutes to go but Graham was able to palm it away. Final substitute for Wexford was Craig Hayes and although Wexford still got more crosses into the Athlone penalty area, Athlone's domination in the air meant that Wexford rarely threatened to get the equaliser and game eventually finished with a 2-1 victory to the away side. Best for Wexford on the night were Ricky Fox, Andy O'Connor and Thomas Croke. Athlone have good technical skill and a strong aerial threat up front and they won't finish bottom like many predicted. Attendance on a mixed night weather-wise was 323.