Salthill

Wexford will be disappointed at not taking at least a point in Drom today after they dominated the match for long periods. With a ferocious downpour starting about 30 minutes before kick-off, the centre of the pitch was waterlogged for the first half making passing a lottery. With Patsy suspended and Shane D. missing, and Noel affected by a one-match touchline ban, the Youths started 4-4-2 with Packie, Shane N., Karl, Murt, Anto, Robert, Craig, Greg, Ben and Danny and Darragh up front. Wexford started like a train but had Anto yellow-carded after a few minutes as he slid into the opposing winger near the touchline.

Murt then had a goal disallowed for off-side as he headed home a free-kick and then headed over another free-kick when in the clear. After fifteen, Robert headed over at he far post from yet another cross. After twenty, Ben hit the post with a shot after being set up by Danny. After 25, Wexford got the goal they deserved from their play when a shot from Craig took a slight deflection to bring it round the Salthill keeper's dive to the right for 1-0. Just after the half-hour, Ben had a free which curled just over. With ten to go in the half, the Youths conceded the equaliser when they let the Salthill full-back collect a short corner unopposed, and his speculative low cross/shot evaded everyone to nestle in the right-hand corner for 1-1. With a few minutes to go in the half, the Salthill no. 7 also picked up a yellow for another sliding tackle on a slippery pitch. 1-1 at half-time after almost complete Wexford domination.

Salthill had a good spell at the start of the second and forced two early corners which they dinked, as usual, towards the near post. After five, Danny was put clear on the left but his first-time shot was comfortably saved. After ten, a nice move down Wexford's right put their winger in the clear and his low cross found a Salthill forward free about eighteen out and he slotted it neatly past Packie for 2-1 to the home side. After twenty, Danny was sent clear on the right but his shot was parried away by the Salthill keeper for a corner. Ben then had an indirect free-kick inside the box pushed away for a corner. With fifteen to go, the Salthill centre-half picked up another yellow and Paul McGee was sent to the dressing rooms for abuse of the referee. Grinny then came on for Robert and Darragh half-volleyed over from twelve out when he should at least have hit the target. Another yellow card was then earned by a Salthill player as he pulled back Danny who looked in the clear with possession.

With a few minutes to go, Ben dinked the ball over the bar with his left about ten out with only the Salthill keeper to beat. With the last touch of four minutes of injury time, he also had a free header beyond the far post but couldn't beat the Salthill keeper for a 2-1 win to the home side. Wexford worked hard all over the pitch and couldn't be faulted for effort but poor concentration for the first and organisation for the second conceded the two goals on the day. Both sides will probably find it hard to pick up points in the remaining league matches with the third match between the two sides probably deciding bottom place. Based on today's performance, you might shade Wexford as more likely to pick up points against the other league teams. 2-1 at full-time for Salthill.