Wexford FC v Athlone

[ForzaForth]

Wexford will feel they deserved the three points in Ferrycarrig tonight as they had more of the game in a match which really livened up after Athlone got their equaliser. Wexford started with Conor, Darragh, Ethan, Divin, Mikie, Kian, Dobbsy, Luka, James, Lewis and Sean. Wexford should probably have scored with their first attack on two minutes when Divin Isamala crossed low from the right wing but Dobbsy was just unable to get a final touch. Wexford continued to look the better side with a notable domination in midfield, possibly due to having more numbers there. On 15 minutes, Luka Lovic headed over the Athlone bar when he was found free inside the Athlone area with a cross from Wexford’s left. Athlone then started to get into the game, mainly through the lively McGregor, and on 26 minutes, he blasted an effort a yard or two wide of the Wexford goal. James Crawford then had a shot deflected for a Wexford corner which led to a further Wexford corner, and Lewis Temple met that second corner at the far post with a header which almost apologetically crept into the Athlone net for 1-0 to Wexford. Wexford then forced two more corners before the end of the half but Wexford looked comfortable going in at the break with a single goal lead.

[ForzaForth]

Athlone improved significantly in the second period and looked dangerous when they got the ball down on the floor. After an Athlone corner had resulted in a header a yard wide in the first minute, Athlone secured an equaliser on ten minutes when Wexford paid the penalty for giving the ball away which resulted in Leo Gaxha being able to break forward and drill a low shot into the corner of the Wexford goal past Conor Walsh for 1-1. Wexford almost got a second immediately after the Athlone equaliser from another set-piece but the ball was cleared off the Athlone goal-line. Wexford’s Mikie Rowe then went close for Wexford just before the vital Wexford substitution took place with Thomas Oluwa being introduced up front. Both sides then searched for a second with Dobbsy heading over from a good Oluwa cross and Athlone substitute, Kyle Robinson, smacking an effort a yard over the Wexford bar. On 34 minutes, Oluwa made the breakthrough for the home side when a couple of half-clearances by Athlone allowed the ball to be knocked into the danger area by Wexford where Thomas Oluwa was on hand to finish comfortably past Axworthy. Conor Walsh then got down low to save an Athlone free-kick before Oluwa stung Axworthy’s hands once again with a good effort and Darragh Levingston ran through on goal late on but his finish was ruled out for offside. Good second-half effort by both sides with Wexford securing the three points on the basis of a 2-1 scoreline. Crowd was believed to be 544.