Waterford

[ForzaForth]

Two hammer-blows for the home side just before half-time, conceding a goal slightly against the run of play and then losing Peter Higgins to a straight red, decided this match decisively in the away side's favour in Ferrycarrig tonight. With Craig suspended and Rocks still not fit, Youths brought in Skelly and started with Graham, Craig S., Lasty, Killian, Jimmy, Skelly, Eric, Shane D., Peter, Deano and with Danny up front. The game started with numerous fouls and then, after six, Skelly turned in off his wing and had a shot which Burns had to tip over in the Waterford goal. With fourteen gone, O'Connor had a run down the left wing and his cross/shot went about a yard wide. On the twenty mark, Danny got free down the right and found Skelly in the box but he couldn't keep his effort on target. The Blues then started picking up yellows for tackles and had four by half-time, including Sullivan, Doherty and Brian Nolan. With three minutes to go in the half, Sullivan almost got through but Lasty managed to knock the ball away for a corner. From that corner, Wexford couldn't clear the ball and it eventually fell to Barrett who was able to steer it home for 1-0 to Waterford. Deano then got a yellow for a tackle and, a minute later, an altercation between Peter Higgins and Sullivan saw the Youths player make contact with raised hands resulting in a straight red and the Youths down to ten. Half-time whistle sounded immediately with Youths one-nil down and in trouble.

[ForzaForth]

Youths needed not to concede early in the second and see what they could manage up top. However, it proved not to be as, on four minutes, Drohan had a shot deflected for a corner. The ball stayed in Wexford's half and eventually Drohan made space down the left and crossed to the far post where Gary Delaney had a free header which gave Graham no chance for 2-0 and virtually game over. With the extra player, the Blues dominated from then on and on fifteen minutes, got a nice third, when O'Connor lifted a free over the wall and into the net with Graham stranded for 3-0. With 25 to go, Shane Nolan and Ben Ryan came on for Craig and Deano. With ten to go, Shane Noan had a chance to lob the Blues keeper but it ended as a comfortable catch. With ten to go, Daryl came on for Skelly. Wexford then raillied right at the end and with three to go, an energetic Shane Nolan was pushed over in the box for a penalty to the Youths. Ben Ryan sent the keeper the wrong way for 3-1. Right on the 90 minutes, Danny had a header which clipped the top of the crossbar and over which might have made injury-time interesting if it had gone in. Another Waterford yellow for Barrett the ended the game for a 3-1 victory to the away side.

[ForzaForth]

Best for Wexford were probably Lasty and Peter before he was sent off but Wexford chased a lot of shadows after they went a man down. Best for Waterford was Drukie Drohan, who looks a super player every time I see him and who created havoc down Wexford's left hand side while Brian Nolan also looked solid in midfield and Jack Doherty looked useful down the right. Wexford look as if they could do with the return of Rocks and Craig Wall to provide more forward momentum and give Danny more support up front. 3-1 at full-time with about 480 at the match if the many young children are included.