Wexford FC v Shelbourne

[ForzaForth]

Another encouraging performance by Wexford tonight as they pushed Shels very hard in Ferrycarrig and showed once again the forward momentum brought about by new manager, Ian Ryan, but ultimately again no points for the home side. In lovely conditions, Wexford started with Jimmy, James, Paul C, Karl F, Jack C, Lorcan, Conor, Karl M, Kyle, Jack D and Paul F. Wexford started steadily enough and withstood any pressure by Shels early on with the home side winning two corners in succession on eight minutes. With 18 minutes gone, Shels created one of their only decent chances from open play when their right winger created space down the right, but his shot was skewed about a yard wide. On 29 minutes, it was a near OG by Wexford, but Jimmy Corcoran, who’s showing up really well at this stage between the sticks for Wexford, managed to tip the wayward Wexford header over his own bar. A minute later, the decisive point in the game came when Shels were awarded what looked like a definite penalty from where I was. However, there was a lot of protests by the Wexford players and a Wexford spectator said afterwards that there was in fact no contact so it may be worth having a look at on the highlights. In any event, Georgie Poynton drilled it straight down the middle and Shels were a goal to the good. On 36 minutes, Wexford’s Kyle Robinson had a neat turn and shot from just outside the Shels area which went a yard wide. 1-0 to Shels at half-time and Wexford still in the game.

[ForzaForth]

Second period had very few goal-mouth chances as Wexford didn’t stretch Brendan Clarke enough in the Shels goal and Shels looked happy on many occasions to simply root the ball up the pitch. On 20 minutes, Wexford’s Karl Fitzsimons, on the stretch, headed wide from a Wexford corner. With 26 minutes gone, a Shels header was cleared off the Wexford line handily enough by the last Wexford defender and then Jimmy Corcoran came out to block an attempted lob by a Shels attacker. Two decent saves by Jimmy Corcoran from two Shels free-kicks then ended the game with Evan Farrell coming on as a late sub for Wexford and with Paul Fox having been replaced by Wexford at half-time. Shels have a strong defence and you could probably say that Wexford needed a bit more of a goal threat in the game once they went a goal down but Wexford will feel that they can get points out of the next run of games starting with Cobh away next week. 1-0 to Shels at full-time.