Wexford FC v Finn Harps

[ForzaForth]

Enjoyable and lively game in Ferrycarrig this evening and one in which, on the balance of play, Wexford will feel they deserved the late goal by Aji Oluwabiyi to secure the three points. Manager Stephen Elliott undoubtedly changed tactics for this game with a more direct style of play than usual and went with Paul, James, Robbie, Dean, Mikie, Zayd, Muhammad, Ryan B, Aji, Matty and Ben. Wexford began the game going directly as Muhammad Haris, Aji Oluwabiyi and Mikie Rowe became targets for balls going quickly from back to front. Oluwabiyi posed an early threat as he came close to curling an effort into the top corner of the Harps net on seven minutes and then won a block which trundled safely into the arms of Sheridan in the Harps goal. However, as the half progressed, Wexford found it difficult to upset Harps dominance in the air at the back and chances became hard to come by. On 26 minutes, Sheridan made a good catch to hold on to a free by Mikie Rowe. At the other end of the pitch, Wexford’s Dean Larkin was doing well to ensure that the lively Mpongo of Harps didn’t do too much damage. Slightly against the run of play, Wexford then conceded a goal when they gave the ball away in their own third and Zerrouk of Harps did well to beat the final Wexford defender and finish tidily past Paul Martin in the Wexford goal for 1-0 to Harps. Wexford did apply some pressure to get an equaliser as the half ended through a free-kick and a corner but the Harps defence remained firm and it was 1-0 to the away side at halftime.

[ForzaForth]

Manager Stephen Elliott has shown himself not to be afraid to make changes at halftime and a key change was made by him at the break as he brought on Aaron Dobbs in place of Ryan Butler who had been playing well. Immediately, the ball was sticking in Wexford’s final third and chances began to be created perhaps best demonstrated by Dobbsy winning his first heading duel just after the whistle went for the start of the half. Shortly afterwards, Dobbsy had a free header on the Harps goal, and it appeared that Sheridan palmed the headed effort onto the Harps post with the rebound coming straight back into Sheridan’s hands. On nine minutes, Haris had a clear run at the Harps goal and his shot was adjudged to have been blocked by the hands of the lunging Harps defender and a peno was awarded to the home side. Mikie Rowe sent Sheridan the wrong way from the spot and it was 1-1. Wexford continued to press for the lead goal and Dobbsy had a good chance at the far post for Wexford but his connection wasn’t clean and Sheridan had an easy save to make. Soon after, Mikie Rowe hit the Harps crossbar with a nice freekick with Sheridan beaten. Then, on 17 minutes, Paul Martin was called into action as he did well to push away a free by Bradley-Walsh of Harps which took a deflection on the way. Kaylem Harnett was then introduced by Wexford in place of Zayd Abada who also had a good game for the home side and later Cian Browne and Calum Flynn. On the half-hour mark, Matty O’Brien had a good effort on goal touched away by Sheridan for a Wexford corner. Just as a point apiece seemed the most likely outcome, Wexford’s Robbie McCourt strode forward with the ball into the Harps half and his pass found Aji Oluwabiyi in too much space about 18 yards out from the Harps goal, and Aji’s quick feet ensured that Sheridan had no chance with his shot on goal which found the roof of the Harps net. Harps did apply some pressure right at the end including a free close in by Bradley-Walsh, but it wasn’t kept on target and Wexford welcomed the final whistle with a 2-1 win. Good piece of management by Elliott in turning the game around and Wexford have real firepower if they can fit Dobbsy, Rowe, Oluwabiyi and Haris together on the pitch at the same time. Crowd was believed to be 580.