Wexford FC v Finn Harps

[ForzaForth]

Very late Harps equaliser cost Wexford what might turn out be two very valuable points in Ferrycarrig tonight. However, Wexford will surely feel that, with a player advantage, they should have controlled the final twenty minutes somewhat better than they did. Wexford started with Owen, Darragh, Ethan, Dobbsy, Luka, James, Kian, Reece, Cian, Luke and Thomas. Harps started well early on and had a half-chance on four minutes when a snapshot was pushed a yard wide of the Wexford post. Wexford then created two great chances on eight minutes with Kelly blocking the first effort on the Harps goal and then Aaron Dobbs putting a header just over the Harps crossbar. However, the game soon afterwards changed into a general stalemate with the first team breaking the deadlock looking likely to grab the three points on offer. On 33 minutes, Dobbsy went down in the Harps box with Wexford looking for a peno but nothing was given. On 38 minutes, Wexford’s Darragh Levingston had a good turn and shot from outside the Harps penalty area but it whistled wide of the Harps goal. 0-0 at halftime with Wexford shading it due mainly to pressure down both flanks with Reece Webb and Darragh Levo particularly prominent.

[ForzaForth]

Second half saw better chances being created by both sides. Wexford made a change at the start of the half with Corban Piper replacing a hobbling Luka Lovic. On two minutes, the Wexford defence cleared a Harps effort on goal from almost their own goal-line. After Harps won a corner with a deflected cross, Kian Corbally had a good chance for Wexford but Kelly in the Harps goal was able to block it away. The important action in the game really started on 24 minutes when Dobbsy lifted the ball over the advancing Kelly in the Harps goal. The ball was only partially cleared by the Harps defence straight to Darragh Levo who coolly picked his spot to put Wexford ahead by a goal to nil. Immediately afterwards, Harps Ryan Rainey got a red possibly due to two yellows and one of which may have been due to throwing an opponent’s boot off the pitch where it landed close to the fourth official and a ballboy. On 30 minutes, Wexford’s Thomas Oluwa had a header which caused Kelly in the Harps goal to produce a reflex save to keep it out. However, Harps seemed to play just as well with ten players and threatened the Wexford goal with an angled effort which went just the other side of the Wexford post. Wexford brought on Eoin Kenny, Conor Levingston and Mark Hanratty as the game entered its final stages. Into injury time, and Wexford’s goalkeeper, Owen Mason, made a brilliant save with his feet to keep out BJ Banda’s low effort on goal but at the expense of a corner. From that corner, Harps keeper, Kelly, won the first touch which enabled a Harps attacker to prod the ball home for 1-1 with Wexford not having shown that they were a player up in the final stages. 1-1 at fulltime. Best for Wexford were Ethan Boyle, Darragh Levingston and Reece Webb. Reported to have been 560 at the game.