League Report: Waterford United 2 - 3 Wexford Youths

Wexford Youths edged a five-goal thriller in the South-East derby with Waterford United at the RSC on Friday night.

Danny Furlong bagged a brace of goals in the second half to add to Andy Mulligan’s first period opener for Wexford Youths. Waterford, who finished with ten men following captain Ethan Boyle’s dismissal, twice came from behind with goals from Cory Galvin and Daniel Pender.

Wexford Youths maintained their push for promotion in a highly entertaining encounter in the South-East.  From start to finish, in a very balanced game between evenly matched sides, the 600 strong crowd at the RSC were kept on the edge of their seats.

The game saw its first clear-cut chance in the 8th minute when Eric Molloy nipped in to steal the ball in midfield before sliding a pass which split open the Blues defence to set danger man Danny Furlong through on goal. Blues keeper Matthew Connor was alert and advanced quickly from his line to gather the ball at Furlong’s feet.

The home side had to wait until the 18th minute for their first real chance of the match and it came from a cleverly worked free kick routine.  Cory Galvin slid a short pass from the set piece to Anthony McAlavey on the edge of the Youths penalty area but the Waterford man was unable to keep his shot down and blasted well over the bar.

On 23 minutes Wexford Youths opened the scoring with a superbly worked goal when the men in trademark pink shirts broke with speed from defence.  Paul Cahillane advanced on the right hand side, fed the ball to Danny Furlong in the centre of the park who touched it back Peter Higgins.  Higgins sent a delicious ball through United’s defence and put Andy Mulligan through on goal.  Mulligan passed the ball into the bottom corner beyond Connor to put the Youths ahead as the visiting fans raised the volume at the RSC.

This was now a test of the Blues character.  Roddy Collins will be delighted at how they responded to going a goal down.  Within 10 minutes the teams were level.  Shaun Corcoran gathered the ball on the left wing, passed it on to Cory Galvin who broke into the box before being impeded by Gary Delaney.  Simon Rogers pointed to the spot and Cory Galvin himself stepped up to tuck away the penalty.

It was United who had the first chance of the second half as Daniel Pender headed over from close range a couple of minutes in but Youths who would find the back of the net next.  Eric Molloy made a break towards the United box on 53 minutes and the lively forward was taken down on the edge the penalty area. Furlong took his cue to put a mark on the game. His free kick evaded the defending wall and snuck in at Matthew Connor’s near post and nestled in the corner of United’s net.  

Moments later and the sides were level again.  An Anthony McAlavey shot from distance was blocked by the Youths defence but the ball broke to marksman Daniel Pender and the Blues number nine dinked the ball over Graham Doyle in the Youths net from eight yards for his fourth goal in two matches.  The RSC exploded.

On 72 minutes the game witnessed a major turning point.  Ethan Boyle clipped one ankle too many and was given a yellow card to go with an earlier caution before referee Simon Rogers, who handled the game very well, issued a red card to the Waterford captain.

After Boyle’s dismissal Youths made their superior numbers count.  Eight minutes later Wexford Youths broke the hearts of the home fans and found themselves leading the tie yet again.  Substitute Conor Whittle swung a free kick in from the left wing which was cleared by the Blues defence but only as far as Peter Higgins who delivered a shot which ricocheted into the path of Furlong in the United penalty area who buried the ball long into the net to claim the three points for Youths.

The Wexford Youths march towards the Premier Division is well and truly on.  They showed great resolve against a Waterford United side, in a fantastic contest, who matched them blow for blow until Furlong struck the winner.

Waterford United: Matthew Connor; Dean Reidy, Shaun Corcoran, Colum Nugent, Shane Mackey; Ethan Boyle (Capt.), Cory Galvin, Evan Galvin, Anthony McAlavey; Aaron O’Connor, Daniel Pender.

Subs not used: Robert Birdsall; Shane Dineen, Brian Nolan; Mark Walsh, Robbie Buckley.

Yellow Cards: Corcoran (51), Boyle (74). Boyle (78), O'Connor (84).

Red Cards: Boyle (78).

Wexford Youths: Graham Doyle (Capt.); Craig McCabe, Ryan Delaney, Gary Delaney, Lee Grace; Peter Higgins, Andy Mulligan, Craig Wall, Eric Molloy; Paul Cahillane (Conor Whittle 71), Danny Furlong.

Subs not used: Gavin Dowling; James Dermody; Chris Kenny, John Pearce; Conor English.

Yellow Cards: Wall (35), Molloy (42), Furlong (72).

Red Cards: None.

Referee: Simon Rogers

Attendance: 600 (estimate).

ExtraTime Man of the Match: Danny Furlong (Wexford Youths).