No excuses from Wexford tonight after a very poor performance let Athlone go away with a comfortable three points. Wexford started Packie, Shane N., Anto, Wolfie, Gareth, Kevin, Shane D., Greg, Deano and Danny and Gary up front. Athlone created the better chances early on and had, firstly, a free-kick just wide of the post and then scored a fine goal when Skelly got on the ball in midfield and turned and chipped Packie from about forty yards with Packie having no chance. Athlone then hit the post when Wexford couldn't hold on to the ball in their own third and gave Athlone a free-kick just outside the box.
In contrast, Wexford had the demeanour of a team who thought they had only to turn up to win and the lack of intensity on their part led to a litany of heavy touches and misplaced passes. The only half-chances were being created by Wexford when Gary got onto the ball wide right. A touch out of the blue, however, Wexford got the equaliser just before half-time when Gareth reached a through-ball first and got clattered by the Athlone keeper just like McGeady against Slovakia. Keeper got a yellow and Shane put the penalty away top left which may have grazed off the cross-bar. One-one at half-time.
Wexford had a good spell at the beginning of the second-half and Kevin should have done better when found clear in the box by Gary down the right but he scuffed his shot. Danny's volleyed effort (pushed away for a corner) was then ruled out for off-side but Athlone should then have scored when a free-kick travelled sixty yards to find an Athlone forward in the clear but, slightly stretching, he poked his shot wide with only Packie to beat. Subs. for Wexford at this stage were Ben Ryan and Hopper for Shane D. and Deano. Athlone then got their second when a bad defensive header never reached Packie and Skelly tucked it away easily for two-one.
Athlone then got their third when a Wexford free-kick was cleared to give Athlone a bizarre three-on-one and the Athlone forwards executed the move correctly to create a simple tap-in. The Athlone keeper then made a good save from a free-kick from Gary which took a deflection off the wall while, in injury time, Wexford hit the post but it bounced away to safety. Muzzi came on for Shane N. with about fifteen to go and looked more interested than most of the players on the pitch. Gary tried hard, Shane N. looked skillful at right-back and Kevin started to win ball up front which his height suggests he should. However, Wexford can be bad when they lose their intensity and this was one of those nights while Skelly looked one of the more accomplished players on the pitch for Athlone. About 250 at it.
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