Report: Wexford Youths 2 - 0 Athlone Town
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On Friday the 18th of April, Wexford Youths entertained Athlone Town at Ferrycarraig Park. Mick Wallace’s men went on to win the game 2-0, with goals from Gavin Doyle and Danny Furlong giving them the points. The game wasn’t as one sided as the score line suggests and at times the Youths rode their luck in conditions full of strong winds and constant rain.
Athlone started the game extremely well and, in their full white strip, looked more like Real Madrid than a team in the bottom half of the league. Their passing and movement was immense for the first twenty minutes, but they didn’t create any clear-cut chances. Their manager Dermot Lennon wasn’t long in noticing and soon enough they were punished for their lack of penetration. Wexford, on the back of a fantastic away win last week against Monaghan United, would have seen this as a key fixture to notch up their first home win of the season, but it wasn’t until late in the first half that they got going.
A freak goal from Gavin Doyle in the 36th minute gave Wexford a harsh lead. Conor Sinnott passed the ball to Doyle on the wide right and he cut inside of Robbie Hamm and shot from the edge of the box. It was a low, hard drive aimed right into the keepers chest, but somehow Anthony Jinks let the ball slip from his clutches and end up in the net. In fairness to Jinks the weather had a lot to do with his mistake.
They say you are at your weakest just after scoring and Wexford nearly paid the price in the 37th minute when Noel McGee latched onto a cross from David Byrne, only to see his header cleared off the line by Tomas Hawkins. Although different angles suggested that the ball had crossed the line, Wexford got away with it and went in leading 1-0 at the interval.
The second half started the very same as the first, Athlone piled on the pressure and dominated the early proceedings, Wexford just couldn’t get to grips with their midfield. Again, for all their possession, Athlone couldn’t penetrate Wexford’s well organised defence. The only decent chance Athlone created in the second half was a rasping volley from Jason McCartney. David Byrne lofted in a free kick and, as it was cleared, the ball sat up perfectly for McCartney who connected brilliantly, but watched his shot creep just wide of the post.
As Lennon went in search of a point by sending on more attacking minded players, Wallace’s men provided the killer touch. Second half substitute Darren Browne picked the ball up on the right hand side and powered towards goal sending his shot across the box. Jinks saved, but could only palm the ball away as far as Richie Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald quickly poked the ball at goal, Jinks was again up to the task, but, unfortunately for him, he was out of luck again as Danny Furlong coolly slotted home the ball on the third time of asking.
The victory moves Wexford up to 5th place, while Athlone find themselves in 8th position. This is the first time in months that Wexford have had back to back wins in the league, but it came at a price as their main striker Paul Murphy looks set for a spell on the sidelines. Athlone on the other hand are locked in a relegation battle that will only get worse if they don’t find their goal scoring touch.
Wexford Youths: (3-5-2): Jason Russell; Garrett Larkin, Thomas Hawkins, Anto Russell; Conor Sinnott, Patsy Malone, Martin Kelly, Gavin Doyle, Liam O’ Loughlin (Darren Browne 87); Paul Murphy (Danny Furlong, 30), Kyle Dempsey (Richard Fitzgerald 70).
Subs not used: Ricky Fox, Paul Rossiter.
Booked: Kelly (4).
Athlone Town: (4-5-1): Anthony Jinks; Ian Rossiter, Philip Reilly, Colm Jinks, Robbie Hamm; Anthony Hayes (David O‘Dowd 62), Niall Scullion (Carmine Russo 86), Davy Byrne, Eric Lavine, Noel McGee, Jason McCartney (Padraig Moran 83).
Subs not used: Lee Gaffey, Declan Fallon.
Booked: O’Dowd (68), C Jinks (85), Hamm (90).
Referee: Rob Rogers.
Attendance: 820.
Man of the match: Jason Russell: The Wexford goalkeeper got everything right on the night. His catching and kicking was close to perfection and he kept his backline on their toes.
