Bray Wanderers (Friendly)

Conditions were so difficult for this evening's friendly in Ferrycarrig Park that both sides deserve credit for serving up a reasonable game and not too much credence should be put on the result. A howling gale blew straight across the pitch during the first half and it abated only slightly during the second period. Youths started with Graham, Conor, Lasty, Lee, Craig Comerford, Craig Wall, Peter, Conor English, Jonny, Drukie and with Rocks up front. First goal for the Youths was very useful from Conor English on 12 minutes who used the wind well to curl a good shot past the Bray keeper for 1-0. Youths then conceded two soft enough goals with a long ball by Bray not being cleared leaving Gerrald (?) to prod it home and then a bad back-pass allowing Bray to eventually knock it home for 2-1 to Bray at half-time.

Both sides made a number of changes at half-time with Jimmy Dermody, Andy Wall, Andy Mulligan and Eric Molloy coming on for the Youths. Due to these changes or to the changes made by Bray, Youths played better in the second period and probably deserved the win. During the second period, Eric Molloy put away a penalty to make it 2-2 and then Andy Wall deflected a shot into the Bray goal to make it a final score of 3-2 to the Youths. Seamus Houghton came on in place of Graham Doyle during the course of the second period but had little to do other than push a Bray effort around the near post for a corner on one occasion. The rain had died down by this stage but the wind was virtually as strong as ever.

As Wexford face their first league match against Cabinteely next Friday, the general view would be that Wexford's panel looks much stronger this year due to the new arrivals with coverage in virtually all positions. As usual, fitness levels seem to be particularly good and there is more of a potent threat out wide with Drukie, Andy Mulligan and Conor English all making a good case for selection and with Deano Broaders still to come back from injury. There may be an over-reliance on Danny Furlong to actually put the chances away inside the opponent's penalty area and Danny is likely to remain the key player for us this year. Difficult to see any basis on which we should finish lower than the fourth place we achieved last year.