Athlone Town 0 - 1 Wexford Youths
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Athlone Town suffered their third straight home defeat as they were beaten by Wexford Youths in Lissywollen on Friday night.
Danny Furlong’s strike just before the hour mark gave the visitors a victory in a game that displayed more endeavour than technique. The win sees Shane Keegan’s men leapfrog Limerick claiming 2nd place a tightly contested race for promotion to the Premier Division.
Wexford had the better of the early exchanges and Dean Broaders started the game brightly running down the left flank and injecting pace into the game whenever he got on the ball. His teasing cross in the opening minutes almost saw the Tommy Barrett diverting the ball into his own net as he was forced to intercept as Wexford had players lurking. Luckily for the defender the ball hit the post and out for a corner.
The home side were being forced back and had only a couple of corners to show for their efforts in the first quarter of an hour. These were wasted as, much to the home fans frustration, they failed to beat the first defender and were easily cleared.
Not that the Warriors were having much better luck as the ball seemed to spend most of its time heading towards the darkening midlands sky. Town did get a sniff of goal when Mark Walsh intercepted a wayward back header from Jamie Carr but his shot was blocked.
It was the visitors who were gradually gaining control in a frantic middle third and when Tom Elmes was fouled on the edge of the area Shane Dempsey dinked a wonderful free kick over the wall but past the upright.
The game was being played mostly around the middle of the park with both sides fully committed to the challenges that were occurring with increasing regularity and referee, Kevin O’Regan, could have went for his card on a number of occasions before he booked Warren Conroy and then Craig Wall just after the half hour mark.
Athlone Town were gifted an opportunity just before the break and Graham Doyle in the Wexford goal can count himself very lucky as Mark Sherlock nearly picked his pocket when he dallied over a back pass, but the keeper did well to recover and avert the danger.
Half time saw a swirling rain blow across the pitch and when the game resumed it was Wexford who attempted to take advantage of the better passing conditions as they set about looking for the opener. They nearly got it as the referee played a good advantage when Tommy Barrett clattered into Aidan Keenan and the ball ran through for Elmes who forced Pat Jennings to get down smartly to his left and save.
The Midlanders keeper could do nothing minutes later when a long clearance made its way to Danny Furlong. The captain was coolness personified as he slotted it home to give his side a deserved lead.
The goal spurred Athlone into action with Noel McGhee forcing a save from Graham Doyle and substitute Garvan Broughall causing problems on the right flank. Wexford weathered the storm and looked dangerous on the break as Danny Furlong was only inches away from doubling the lead with a sweet volley on 75 minutes.
The home fans wanted a penalty with five minutes to go when Brian Nolan challenged McGhee in the area but the referee was not impressed and Wexford held on for a win that was just about deserved on the balance of play.
Athlone Town: Pat Jennings; Joe Woods (Garvan Broughall 53), Tommy Barrett, Brian McCarthy, Ross Kenny; Darren Coleman (Val Feeney 66), Jason Hughes, Warren Conroy (Kevin Williamson 46), Mark Walsh; Mark Sherlock, Noel McGhee.
Subs not used: Brian Collopy, Brian Gill, Paul Danaher, Niall Scullion.
Bookings: Conroy (31), Barrett (48).
Wexford Youths: Graham Doyle; Brian Nolan, Jamie Carr, CJ Browne, James Dermody; Aidan Keenan, Shane Dempsey, Craig Wall, Dean Broaders; Tom Elmes, Danny Furlong (Shane Nolan 89).
Subs not used: Cormac O’Brien, James Scallon, Martin Keogh, Shaun Corcoran, Paul Malone, Thomas Croke.
Bookings: Wall (34), Keenan (82).
Referee: Kevin O’Regan.
Attendance: 358
Extratime Man of the Match: Dean Broaders (Wexford Youths).
