Wexford FC v Bray

[ForzaForth]

Wexford probably deserved the three points in a decent game in Ferrycarrig tonight but, in terms of actual chances created, there wasn’t much between the two sides. Wexford were unchanged from the side which won against UCD and started with Paul, Darragh, James, Robbie, Dean, Mikie, Dobbsy, Kaylem, Zayd, Jack and Ryan. Wexford started the better with Mikie Rowe looking the most threatening as, on four minutes, he was found with a cross-field ball but was given offside. Then, on ten minutes, the ball travelled to Mikie on Wexford’s right, but he couldn’t wrap his foot around the ball sufficiently to keep his shot on target. Bray were generally going more direct of the two sides, but former Wexford player Cian Curtis was playing up front for Bray and that wouldn’t be the strongest part of his game. On 17 minutes, Dobbsy limped off and was replaced by Luke Kehir for Wexford. Wexford had a number of decent headed chances through the game and, on 22 minutes, Dean Larkin had a headed effort on target, but Jimmy Corcoran in the Bray goal got down low to save. Game went into a bit of a lull from then until almost half-time, but Wexford ensured that they went in at the break with a lead. Firstly, Wexford couldn’t finish when the ball travelled across the Bray goal but nobody could get a touch. A minute later, Kaylem Harnett crossed low from Wexford’s right where he found Mikie Rowe in space, and Mikie’s quality turn and shot found the top left corner of the Bray goal to give Corcoran no chance. 1-0 to Wexford at halftime and a deserved lead for the home side.

[ForzaForth]

Bray made three changes at the start of the second period and looked much improved as Wexford’s keeper, Paul Martin, had to work really hard to keep Bray at bay. With two minutes gone, Martin made his best save of the game to get a strong hand to a piledriver from Bray inside the Wexford area at the expense of a corner. Martin then followed that up with a mighty double save six minutes later, as Wexford seemed to be unable to grab hold of the game. However, a good move by Wexford followed immediately with Corcoran again having to grab a Wexford header low down. On 15 minutes, Paul Martin made a confident catch from a Bray free from just outside the area. A minute later, the ball was at the other end where Bray were adjudged to have fouled a Wexford attacker running through on goal. A penalty was awarded which might have been considered a touch on the harsh side. However, Mikie Rowe gave Corcoran no chance with his spotter as he blasted the ball top left. 2-0 to Wexford and points virtually secured. Subs which ensued for Wexford included Darragh Levingston, Filip Wasilewski, and Josh Lyons. Following another Wexford header which was stopped on the Bray goal-line, Paul Martin again did well to thwart Cian Curtis from scoring in a one-on-one as the game entered injury-time. 2-0 to Wexford at fulltime. Best for Wexford were Paul Martin, Mikie Rowe, Kaylem Harnett and James Crawford. Crowd was believed to be 848.