League Report: Wexford FC 0 - 3 Waterford FC

Waterford took the spoils in the season opening derby between south east neighbours Wexford and Waterford. A Wassim Aouachria hat trick proving the difference on a night where almost 2,000 people packed into Ferrycarrig Park.

As to be expected, both sides had a number of new signings on show with James Keddy selecting an almost entirely new starting XI in his first league game in front of his home crowd. Defenders Ethan Boyle and Hugh Douglas brought their Premier Division experience to the defence while Gorey native Conor Levingston, fresh from time with top flight Bohemians, slotted into midfield. Up top, the electric Jordan Adeyemo was among the cohort of ex Longford Town players who followed Keddy to Ferrycarrig- ex Dundalk wideman Mark Hanratty, netminder Colm Cox and midfielder Aaron Robinson were also among that number.

Danny Searle’s visiting Blues side had a more settled look with their Fleetwood Town partnership evident throughout the starting lineup. League debutants Barry Baggley and Chris Conn-Clarke, both on loan from the Cod Army, settled into the midfield while Tom Donaghy, on a similar deal, occupied the reserve goalkeeping spot on the bench. Ex Wycombe Wanderers attacker Connor Parsons and former Aldershot Town defender Giles Phillips made up the rest of the new signings from the English leagues.

With both sides arriving on the pitch to a pyrotechnic display, it didn’t take long for the away side to produce fireworks of their own. Wassim Aouachria danced in from the right wing to fire a shot past Cox- despite the keeper getting a hand to the effort it flew into the net for the opening goal with just over five minutes on the clock.

Less than ten minutes later the second Waterford goal arrived and it was that man Aouachria again, this time tapping home from close range after Roland Idowu’s delightful right wing cross. The former Bohemians man also played a role in the opening Waterford goal, continuing the fine form he had exhibited in 2022. 

However, the home side fought their way back into the contest with a number of chances- the most notable of which saw Paul Martin diving at full stretch to stop a close range header from Adeyemo. 

Any hopes home fans had of a potential comeback were extinguished early in the second half as Aouachria latched onto a long ball and forced his way past the Wexford central defensive partnership before rolling the ball into the bottom corner of the net to ensure he took home the match ball- three goals for the Algerian and three points for his Waterford side as they began their quest for promotion.

For Wexford, no points but plenty of positives for James Keddy and his side. They next take on Cobh Ramblers in St Colman’s Park in a game which will tell a lot more about their potential for the season ahead than tonight’s outing against their high powered rivals.

Wexford: Colm Cox; Ethan Boyle, Hugh Douglas (James Crawford 78), Matthew Dunne, Reece Webb; Mark Hanratty, Conor Levingston (Darragh Levingston 78), Brandon McCann (Karl Chambers 61), Aaron Robinson; Jordan Adeyemo (Sean Fitzpatrick 78), Aaron Dobbs (Danny Furlong 69).

Subs not used: Noel Heffernan, Ben Lynch, Evan Farrell.

Booked: Matthew Dunne (18), Ethan Boyle (21), Conor Levingston (60).

Sent off: None.

Waterford: Paul Martin; Ryan Burke, Eddie Nolan, Giles Phillips; Barry Baggley (Niall O'Keeffe 68), Chris Conn-Clarke (Ronan Coughlan 68), Roland Idowu, Dean McMenamy (Shane Griffin 79), Tunmise Sobowale; Wassim Aouachria (Thomas Oluwa 72), Connor Parsons.

Subs not used: Tom Donaghy, Harvey Warren, Darragh Power, Charles Ondo, Dean Larkin .

Booked: Barry Baggley (25).

Sent off: None.

Referee: Paul Norton.

Attendance: 1,981

extratime.com Player of the Match: Wassim Aouachria