League Preview: Wexford - v - Cabinteely

WEXFORD

After last week's disappointing FAI Cup exit to Crumlin Utd, Wexford return to league action when to face Cabinteely for the fourth and final time this season (kick off at Ferrycarraig Park on Friday is 8pm).

 

The last time that the teams met, Eoin Porter scored the only goal of the game to give Wexford the win, their first victory away from home for the season.

 

Talking to the Wexford media team prior to Friday's game, manager Damian Locke was hopeful of a repeat performance.

 

"As with any game in this league, it's going to be tough, and we'll have to work hard for anything we get. They're on a good run at the moment [unbeaten in their last 6 games], and with someone like Kieran Waters up front they're always going to carry a goal threat.

 

“But we'll have a game plan and if we execute it correctly, I'm confident. It was only a while ago [23rd June] that we went to Stradbrook and came away with the win, so we know that we have a group of players here that are more than capable of picking up the win."



 

Former Cabinteely player Mark Slater will miss out for the home side as he serves the third of his three match suspension after being sent off in the home defeat to Cobh Ramblers. Both Andrew O'Connor and Conor Sutton are back to full fitness having overcome niggles in recent weeks.

 

Recent recruit Adam O'Rourke will face a late fitness test, along with fellow midfielder Thomas Croke. Aaron O'Connor continues to miss out through injury, but the other long term absentee Adam Hanlon has resumed full training and he’ll be back in contention in a few weeks.

 

Meanwhile, Thursday officially saw defender Ricky Fox leave the club. He made 16 appearances for the Slaneysiders in 2017 and scored a screamer back in matchday 2 in a 2-1 home defeat to Athlone Town.



 

 

CABINTEELY

Cabo come into this game in fourth place in the First Division and are already enjoying their best ever season since their inception as a League of Ireland club in 2015.

 

They are unbeaten in six in all competitions (a club record)- including three wins- two of which were against UCD and Cobh Ramblers- who are above the South Dublin club in the table.

 

They also drew 1-1 in their last league game against table-topping Waterford at Stradbrook on August 4th.

 

Last Friday night though, they booked themselves a tie with non-league Bluebell Utd in the FAI cup second round (see full draw here), after beating UCD 3-1 at Stradbrook.

 

Kieran 'Marty' Waters, Anthony Dolan and new signing Ryan Swan got the goals to haunt the former and latter’s old club.

 

With a winnable away game to Bluebell in the cup next weekend, coupled with the great league form they find themselves in, there is a real sense of optimism around the air in Blackrock at the moment.

 

A win on Friday night wouldn’t do anything in terms of promotion, but they would no doubt would want to keep this run going to let the fellow club’s know they’ll be gunning for promotion next season.

 

They will be missing influential captain Kevin Knight for this game, he has played every minute and every game for his side so far this season.

 

Referee:  David Keeler

 

MATCH STATS

Both sides have met each other competitively seven times in total. Wexford coming out on top four times to Cabo's two. There has been an average of 3.3 goals per game in those seven games.

 

From the three meetings so far between the pair, Cabo won the first game 2-0 at Stradbrook. A 1-1 draw followed at Ferrycarrig Park in late April.

 

Wexford picked up their first away win of the season in the last game between the pair back in June, winning the game 0-1. Cabo have not lost a game since.

 

Last five games in the league – Wexford DLDWL and Cabinteely DWWDW

 

BETTING

Wexford 23/10; Draw 23/10; Cabinteely 11/10

 

PREDICTION

Wexford 1-1 Cabinteely

 

Wexford

Injured: Aaron O' Connor, Adam Hanlon

Doubtful: Adam O' Rourke, Thomas Croke

Suspended: Mark Slater

 

Cabinteely

Injured: Unknown

Doubtful: Unknown

Suspended: Kevin Knight

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