Almost insane conditions for football in Ferrycarrig tonight with a near hurricane blowing straight across the pitch but in which Wexford showed their continuing improvement as they deservedly secured the three points against Athlone. Wexford started with Corey, Paddy, Hopper, Sean, Darragh, Danny Doyle, Crokey, Ryan, Emmet and with Jack Doherty and Danny Furlong up front. The game came down to who could do anything creative in the terrible conditions with any aerial ball generally heading straight out of play. Athlone looked the neater team in the first half but it seemed slightly the easier to play towards the dressing-room end. Kaleem Simon for Athlone got the first shot away after about 20 minutes but it went yards wide. On 25 minutes, Wexford got their first passing movement together and it led to the first goal as the excellent Paddy Cahill for Wexford sent Danny Doyle free down the right and his low cross was slid home by Danny Furlong for 1-0 to Wexford. On the half-hour a last-ditch tackle by one of a very capable Wexford defensive quartet prevented a certain Athlone goal. With seven minutes to go in the half, Dean George of Athlone went down in the Wexford area but nothing was given. Wexford’s Jack Doherty then shot a yard over the Athlone bar and it ended 1-0 to Wexford at half-time.
Athlone played into the more difficult N11 end for the second half and found it hard to threaten Corey Chambers in the Wexford goal. In contrast, Wexford now played the more decent football and could have stretched their lead by more than a further goal. On eight minutes, Emmet Nugent for Wexford shot over the Athlone bar when well-placed and this was followed by a great finish from Jack Doherty after a great out-ball by Emmet Nugent for 2-0 to Wexford. Nika Arevadze soon came on for Crokey as Athlone tried in vain to keep the ball within the confines of the Wexford half. Jack Doherty then rounded Myles in the Athlone goal but couldn’t beat the last defender on the goal-line. With seven minutes to go, a great move by Wexford led to Jack Doherty facing only Myles in the Athlone goal, but again he couldn’t find the net. Late subs for Wexford were Sean Roche and Andrew Farrell with both Arevadze and Nugent going close to adding further to Wexford’s lead. So, 2-0 to Wexford at full-time with the back four of Wexford doing really well on the night together with Emmet Nugent and Jack Doherty. About 160 or so at the game.
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