Mervue United 3 - 0 Wexford Youths

• Terry Flaherty
• Sat, Jun 18 2011


Mervue United registered their biggest win of the season as they hit a struggling Wexford Youths for three second half goals to claim their sixth win of the season at Fahy’s Field on Friday night.

The opening period saw both sides create opportunities with the visitors probably having the better chances particularly early on in the game but the half failed to produce a score. Wexford started well and forced three corners in succession after the five minute mark and from one of those they created a good early chance.

A quickly taken short corner routine resulted in Martin Kehoe forcing an excellent save from the returning Ger Hanley as he blocked the centre half’s on target header, while Darragh Walshe fired the rebound over the crossbar. A dangerous right wing cross from fullback Shane Nolan saw Kevin Rowe just fail to connect with the delivery with the goal at his mercy inside the six yard box after eight minutes.

Mervue produced their first chance after 20 minutes when Mark Ludden swung a good ball into the box were an unmarked Jason Molloy side footed his effort badly wide. Hanley then produced another top class save from a close range Danny Furlong header a minute later.

The best chance of the half fell to Dave Goldbey as his downward header flew just the wrong side of the post after Tom King had picked him out unmarked in the six yard box on 23 minutes. A minute before the break and some good football from King and Ludden set up Goldbey for a shot but he curled his effort wide from the edge of the box as the half finished as it started.

The home side hit the front with a two goal salvo within nine minutes of the restart before adding a third for good measure. A Ludden corner from the right on 54 minutes picked out Noel Varley’s late run to the back post and he powerfully headed into the top corner past Packie Holden for his first ever league goal.

Before the visitors could recover from that blow Mervue had doubled their lead almost from the restart. Tom King capitalised on some bad Wexford defending as both Martin Kehoe and Dean Broaders failed to clear a Gaffney ball and allowed winger King to run onto the ball and fire past Holden for a second a within a minute.

Varley fired another low effort wide of Holden’s goal, while the same player got on the end of a King corner delivery only to shoot over when totally unmarked on the penalty spot after 74 minutes. A minute later and the home side had trebled their lead.

Gaffney played a lovely ball out wide to Goldbey on the left and he beat Nolan before cutting into the box and shooting but Holden palmed his effort away only for King to pick up the loose ball and return to the net for 3-0.

Mervue almost made it four with two minutes remaining as substitute Michael Collins headed fellow sub Mike Tierney’s left wing cross just past the angle of the post. A late Ben Ryan free-kick found the target but once again Hanley was equal to it as he saved well to preserve his side’s clean sheet.

Johnny Glynn’s Mervue side returned to winning ways as they recorded their fourth home win of the season, while Noel O’Connor’s Youths side bad league form continues as they have now lost five on the bounce.

Mervue Utd: Ger Hanley, Kevin Crehan (Michael Collins ’80), Mark Ludden, James Casserely, Martin Conneely, Noel Varley (David O’Brien ’81), Tom King, John Mountney, David Goldbey (Mike Tierney ’84), Jason Molloy, Rory Gaffney.
Subs not used: Barry McEntee, Ger McGrath, TJ Forde (GK)
Booked – Gaffney ’49, Collins ‘89

Wexford Youths: Packie Holden, Shane Nolan, Dean Broaders, Martin Kehoe, Karl Keogh, Kevin Rowe (Eoin Kinsella ’72), Ben Ryan, Greg Yelverton, Danny Furlong, Darragh Walshe, Muzzy Mullen (Garret McCurtin ’62)
Subs Not Used: Rob Vickers.
Booked - Nolan ’12, Furlong ’31, Yelverton ‘90

Referee: Kevin O’Regan (Kerry)

Attendance – 257

Extratime.ie Man of the Match – Noel Varley (Mervue Utd) – scored his first goal at senior level with an excellent display in midfield.