Wexford FC v Treaty

[ForzaForth]

Deserved and much-needed win for Wexford tonight by virtue of a 3-2 scoreline, but with two missed penalties, a Wexford goal badly missed by the officials and both keepers, particularly Jack Brady for Treaty, having terrific games, it could have finished with any result in a frenetic game in Ferrycarrig. Wexford started with Paul, Max, Adam, Robbie, Dean, Mikie, Zayd, Jamie, Gavin, Dylan and Jake. Treaty were forced to make a change just before the start of the game when Jevontae Layne hobbled out of the warm-ups holding the back of his leg. Whether this upset the Treaty side or not, they started very slowly and Wexford dominated the game right from the start. On four minutes, the Treaty defence let a long ball bounce which enabled Jake Doyle to neatly tip the ball over the final Treaty defender and smack an easy volley past Brady in the Treaty goal for 1-0 to Wexford. Brady’s brilliance then prevented Wexford from going further ahead when he kept two strong Wexford chances from going in. First real chance for Treaty came on 23 minutes when Paul Martin in the Wexford goal charged outside his area but didn’t win the ball but there was enough Wexford cover to head the goal-bound Treaty effort away. Immediately, the ball transferred to the other end where the lively Jake Doyle just couldn’t connect with a good cross from Wexford’s left. Wexford’s Jamie Wynne, who has come on in leaps and bounds since the beginning of the season and was outstanding again this evening, then forced Brady to make another good save. As Wexford were looking comfortable, they suddenly conceded a peno when Oyenuga, who looked decent for the away side, forced a foul inside the Wexford area. However, the peno by former Wexford player, Cian Curtis, was comfortably saved by Martin in the Wexford goal. Soon afterwards, Wexford’s Jake Doyle had three attempts from close in to add to Wexford’s lead but the first two were parried by Brady. The third, however, crossed the goal-line but was badly missed by the linesman, in particular, with photographs soon being circulated of the ball well over the Treaty goal-line. Then, right on half-time, Wexford were themselves awarded a peno for a hand-ball inside the Treaty area. You’d put your money on Mikie Rowe to score from the spot, but on this occasion it was hit too close to Brady and was also saved. 1-0 to Wexford at half-time with Wexford probably deserving more of a lead on the board.

[ForzaForth]

With credit to Treaty, the away side posed much more of a threat from the start of the second period. It was soon 1-1 when Treaty’s Ben Feeney finished neatly from close in and then Paul Martin brought off a tremendous save to keep the scores level after a one-two by Treaty had cut open the Wexford defence. However, on ten minutes, more good work by Jamie Wynne down Wexford’s left enabled Mikie Rowe to produce an acrobatic diving header to restore Wexford’s lead. 2-1 to Wexford. After Paul Martin had made another good near-post save and Ryan Ritchie had come on as a sub for Wexford, Wexford’s Adam Verdon produced a bit of magic when he beat two Treaty players, fell over, got up and then produced a bullet low left-footed drive to beat Brady in the Treaty goal for 3-1 to Wexford. Further subs for Wexford were Kaylem Harnett and Liam Doyle. However, Treaty weren’t finished yet as they forced Martin into another good one-on-one save and, then, in injury-time, a cross was deflected past Martin by what looked like a Wexford defender. 3-2 to Wexford at the end. Neither manager will be happy with the amount of chances conceded but Wexford will be delighted with the three points. Wexford looked strongest going forward with Doyle, Wynne and Rowe very prominent but the clean sheet at the other end still looks a distant prospect. Attendance was believed to be 581.