Salthill Devon

[ForzaForth]

Very entertaining match in Drom tonight, if lacking a little in quality, as Wexford paid the price for a very poor spell in the first half after going ahead. Youths went 4-3-3 at the start with Graham, Craig, CJ, Gary, Jimmy, Eric, Crokey, Shane and a front three of Daryl, Deano and Joey. Youths looked the busier at the start and scored with their first real chance when Craig (?) bundled the ball home at a corner which Salthill couldn't clear, although it looked as if the ball had hit the top of the net just under the bar a second or two earlier from an effort by CJ. The corner had been taken by Deano whose free-kick had been deflected for a corner. On the quarter-hour, Shane had a lob from 30 out which went a couple of feet over. Wexford then went through a very bad spell, however, and gave up too many chances to Salthill. On twenty minutes, the lively Sibanda got to a long ball first before Graham and could have gone down for a peno but shot and the ball was cleared off the line. A minute later, another long ball found Wexford's defence square again, and the ball was lobbed over Graham into an empty net for 1-1. This was followed by a cross-field pass which Sibanda volleyed first-time into the side netting. On the half-hour, Graham did well to push a Salthill header at the far-post round that post for a corner. But a minute later, a Salthill cross dropped to Biansumba on his own in the Youth's box and he had an easy finish for 2-1 for the home side.

[ForzaForth]

With ten to go, Shane Nolan had another effort from 25 out which went over and then a Salthill through ball put an attacker in the clear and he was pulled back by Craig for a peno which went low left with Graham going the wrong way for 3-1. Wexford needed to reply immediately and did so with three minutes to go in the half when Deano curled a good free over the wall for 3-2 after Joey had been pulled back just outside the box. Joey then had another half-chance but put it over from just outside the box for a 3-2 scoreline at half time.

[ForzaForth]

Second half didn't have as many chances as the first. After 5 minutes Salthill created space down the left but the ball was hit at one of their own players and went wide. After 8 minutes, Shane Nolan picked up a yellow for a tackle and this was followed on 12 minutes for yellows for Deano and Enubele for squaring up to each other. With 15 minutes gone, Tom Elmes came on for Shane. Just on the half-hour, Salthill had a shot just over and this was followed by a good Wexford move which put Tom clear but Forde in the Salthill goal just got a hand to the effort to keep it out. With fifteen to go, Clarkey and Graham came on for Deano and Daryl, with Deano just having avoided a second yellow for a tackle. Wexford piled on the pressure in the last few minutes of normal time and the four minutes of injury, but couldn't get the equaliser for a 3-2 win for Salthill.

[ForzaForth]

Best for Wexford were Jimmy and Crokey, while Deano had a good first 45. Wexford looked far more effective with two big lads, Graham and Tom, up front and showed some familiar failings which Shane should be ironing out - forwards trying to get rid of the ball too quickly and giving it away, and over-hit long balls sent directly to the Salthill keeper. New signing, Donal Shanley, from the U19s, was an unused sub. 3-2 to Salthill at full-time.