League Report: Wexford 0 - 3 Drogheda United

Drogheda United came away from a wet Ferrycarrig Park tonight with a 3-0 victory over Wexford in the SSE Airtricity League First Division.

Despite the result, Drogheda were lucky to come away with three goals and three points tonight in a game where a much more spirited Wexford team should have converted their chances. 

In a scrappy opening few minutes it was Drogheda who had both more chances, and time on the ball.

Mark Doyle had a couple of chances early on. A header wide from a Richie O'Farrell cross in the third minute was fairly tame while a shot low and hard to the bottom right didn't trouble Tom Murphy in the Wexford goal.

The Wexford back four looked solid in the first half dealing with a few Drogheda long balls quite easily. Jay Nwanze a calming influence in the heart of the Wexford defence, looking very collected.

Charlie Smith had a decent chance in the 17^th minute. Simon put Doherty in a great position to put a low ball in across the six-yard box, the ball bobbling away from Smith.

Wexford's best chance of the half came when Conor Crowley came deep from midfield to play a one-two with Jack Doherty. The Wexford number six however slid the ball past the left post.

Conor Crowley had an excellent attempt palmed away by Odumosu in the 24^th minute. A powerful shot from 25 yards needed a strong palm from the Drogheda goalkeeper.

Failing to keep up the momentum from the first half Wexford heads dropped in the opening few minutes.

Mark Doyle, who had been looking lively all evening, picked up the ball on the edge of the Wexford penalty area and had his shot deflected past Tom Murphy and into the net.

Only a couple of minutes later, Doyle found the net again. A nice period of sustained pressure from Drogheda led to Doyle collecting the ball inside the box, hitting it low and again, deflecting off a Wexford defender to float into the bottom right corner.

Jake Hyland's corners proved troublesome for Wexford throughout the game. An in-swinger from the right was met by Stephen Meaney's head forcing an excellent save from Tom Murphy to tip the ball over the bar.

A Conor English run in the 65^th minute troubled the Drogheda defence, before eventually laying the ball off to Kaleem Simon who blasted a ball a few inches over the bar.

Tom Murphy was called into action again in the Wexford goal after Drogheda right full James Brown played a beautiful ball in between the Drogheda defence.

It was met by substitute Jordan Adeyemo who cut inside in the six-yard box for a left footed shot, to be deflected away by the leg of Murphy.

A great period of pressure from Wexford led to a chance through Jack Doherty. The former Longford Town winger hounded the ball down from the Drogheda defence, laid off Craig Giles for a cross into English.

Struggling to take the ball under control, the substitute tried to knock it down for Doherty, who could only slice it wide.  

Doherty had another heart-in-mouth chance in the 74^th minute. An Adeyemo handball left of the Drogheda penalty area led to a dangerous Conor Crowley free kick which Doherty was inches from getting a toe to. It was gathered safely by Odumuso.

Drogheda's Mark Doyle was consistently threatening every time he got the ball. A left footed shot from just inside the box on a Drogheda counter-attack was tipped past Murphy's near post. Despite the score line, Tom Murphy had a very strong game between the Wexford posts.

Clancy's complaints were forgotten about not long after when former Bray defender Hugh Douglas rose high above everyone in the Wexford box to meet a Jake Hyland corner, glancing the ball into the left side of the net. Douglas proving himself to be a very firm signing for Drogheda this season.

Wexford nearly got themselves a consolation goal deep into added time as Kristian Crawford's cross was met by the head of captain Dan Tobin at the far post only to bounce off the bar.

Wexford: Tom Murphy (GK); Craig Giles (Kristian Crawford 79), Jay Nwanze, James Carroll, Dan Tobin (C); Conor Crowley (Patrick O'Sullivan 89), Karl Manahan; Charlie Smith (Conor English 61), Karl Fitzsimons Kaleem Simon (Kevin McEvoy 89); Jack Doherty.

Unused Subs: Jack Lydon (GK), Liam Berry.

Booked: Conor Crowley (33)

Drogheda United: David Odumuso (GK); James Brown, Hugh Douglas, Derek Prendergast, Conor Kane; Mark Hughes (Frank Cabraley 90+2), Richie O'Farrell (James Clarke 61), Jake Hyland (C); Stephen Meaney (Jack Tuite 73), Brandon Bermingham (Jordan Odeyamo 61), Mark Doyle (Adam Wixted 90+2).

Unused Subs: Ross Treacy (GK), Ryan O'Shea.

Booked: Hugh Douglas (26), Richie O'Farrell (33).

Referee: Eoghan O'Shea.

Extratime.com Player of the Match: Mark Doyle (Drogheda United).