- Aisling Hannon
- Sat, Jul 15 2023
Stephen Kenny cheered from the stands as his son scored his first goal for Wexford FC at the Carlisle Grounds on Friday night, leaving the visitors with a 3-0 victory over Bray Wanderers.
A first-half Kian Corbally tap-in, followed by second-half goals from new signings Thomas Oluwa and Eoin Kenny saw Wexford move into sixth place in the table, and are now just two points behind tonight’s opponents.
Bray finished the game with nine men, with Wexford having a red card of their own, but it was the visitors who dominated following a difficult run of results in recent weeks.
After a heavy 4-1 defeat to Athlone last Friday, Wexford looked like a different team from the start and took just two minutes to claim their first goal of the night.
Corbally took advantage of a mistake from goalkeeper Stephen McGuinness after he was left unable to control the pass from skipper Dane Massey.
As McGuinness fumbled, Corbally was there to tap the ball in and produce a very early lead for the visitors.
The Seagulls looked rather calm on the ball considering this early setback, but it soon changed, and it was evident James Keddy’s men looked to be the stronger side.
Both Aaron Dobbs and Mark Hanratty had low shots saved by McGuinness in the opening 20 minutes as Bray’s midfield played high up the pitch with an evident struggle to pass without losing possession.
Dobbs was soon at the centre of some worrying scenes as a push in the back from Massey left the Wexford native being stretchered off following a lengthy stoppage for treatment.
As Wexford looked to push on without their top goalscorer, his replacement Oluwa was quick to step into the fold on his debut, putting McGuinness to the test within minutes with a low shot going inches wide.
The loan signing of the Waterford striker was announced just hours before kick-off and he certainly has a good reputation in the league, netting 11 for Athlone last season.
Along with Oluwa’s attempt, Corbally also had a go at doubling the lead but kicked the ball straight at McGuinness shortly before the half-time whistle in what was a dominant performance from Wexford.
Ian Ryan’s side came out looking more composed in the second-half, putting the pressure on early, but Wexford saw through them and the high energy in the squad came to light once again.
Corban Piper had a couple of chances early in the half when a headed attempt went inches wide, followed by a heavy shot that was hit a little too hard, despite taking good initial control.
Bray saw red on the hour-mark when skipper Massey was shown a straight red following a trip on Oluwa, denying him a goal-scoring opportunity.
Oluwa broke free and was speeding towards goal but Massey intervened, and the referee had no choice but to send him down the tunnel.
Four substitutions for Bray followed, and gave a bit of promise to the side, including former Wexford stars Luka Lovic and Harry Groome, but Oluwa was too strong for the home side and doubled the lead with 20 minutes remaining.
Hanratty flicked the ball past the defence to meet his new teammate, who produced a brave solo effort by dipping around the defenders before firing in a low shot from 16 yards to make it 2-0.
Wexford continued to look very tight at the back with skipper Ethan Boyle leading the pack, clearing every ball that came his way, but the side were reduced to ten men when Darragh Levingston received a second yellow with ten minutes left on the clock.
Levingston was a little too determined to defend a free kick from Bray, and refused to go back ten yards as per the referee’s instruction.
Moments later, it was Bray who saw red yet again when an altercation broke out following a foul on Oluwa in the centre circle, resulting in Jack Hudson being forced to leave the field.
With tensions running high, it looked to be game over with two goals on the board, but Wexford managed to nick a third in the dying seconds when an excellent high pass from substitute Karl Chambers left Kenny finding himself through on goal, slotting home his first for his new side as Lovic and Webster watched on in disbelief.
Wexford will hope to get back into a good run of form as they take on Avondale United at home in the FAI Cup next week, while Bray meet Cockhill Celtic.
The next league fixtures see a home tie for Wexford against Treaty United in two weeks’ time as Bray travel to table-toppers Galway United
Bray Wanderers: Stephen McGuinness; Jack Hudson, Dane Massey, Len O'Sullivan; Darren Craven (David Webster 62), Conor Crowley, Ben Feeney (Ger Shortt 81), Max Murphy; Nadre Butcher (Harry Groome 62), Yoyo Mahdy (Luka Lovic 62), Sean Quinn (Chris Lyons 62).
Subs not used: Alex Moody, Lorcan Fitzgerald, Guillemo Almirral, Callum Thompson.
Booked: Sean Quinn (51).
Sent off: Dane Massey (59), Jack Hudson (87).
Wexford: Owen Mason; Ethan Boyle, Luke Browne, Darragh Levingston, Reece Webb; Kian Corbally, James Crawford, Cian O'Malley, Corban Piper; Aaron Dobbs (Thomas Oluwa 34 (Eoin Kenny 90+1’)), Mark Hanratty (Karl Chambers 88).
Subs not used: Charlie Heffernan, Kaylem Harnett, Ben Lynch, Aaron Doran, Max Kelly, Sean Fitzpatrick.
Booked: Darragh Levingston (63), Ethan Boyle (80), Darragh Levingston (81), Luke Browne (86).
Sent off: Darragh Levingston (81).
Referee: Marc Lynch
extratime.com Player of the Match: Ethan Boyle (Wexford FC)
