- Stuart Connolly
- Fri, Jun 23 2023
Stuart Connolly reports from Finn Park
A slender win away at Finn Park has seen Wexford pick up a third win in their last five games and moved them within three points of the play-offs.
With the game scoreless at the break, Aaron Dobbs found the back of the net shortly after the hour to send James Keddy's side back to Ferrycarrig Park with three points.
For Dave Rogers' side, they remain in eighth place and are a considerable distance away from the play-off picture after their ninth defeat of the season.
Finn Harps were on the right side of a five goal thriller prior to the break and Dave Rogers opted for just one change to that line-up with Damian Duffy getting his first start for the club.
Wexford were beaten by Galway United before the break and they also made only one alteration to their team with Danny Furlong thrust into the starting eleven.
Furlong wasn't too far away from finding the net with less than ten minutes gone but his low strike was well thwarted by Tim Heimer.
Just minutes beforehand, Ryan Flood stung the palms of Noel Heffernan with a close range free kick.
With just under 20 minutes gone, Caoimhin Porter had a shot blocked at the source when he really should have sought better options with Sean O'Donnell and Filip Da Silva in space to his left.
Harps' home debutant, Damian Duffy, went close to marking the occasion with a spectacular strike from distance but his arrowed attempt brushed the outside of the post.
The hosts ended the first-half strongly and two big opportunities went astray as the teams were locked in a stalemate at the interval.
Noe Baba fired straight at Heffernan from the edge of the area but perhaps the better chance fell to O'Donnell who skewed his shot wide from less than 12 yards out after some good work from Da Silva.
The visitors started the second-half well and after a period of control and an impact substitution, they broke the deadlock on the hour. After an initial shot was blocked, Mark Hanratty, fresh on the pitch, laid it off for Aaron Dobbs who curled home from close range.
The favour was returned moments later with Hanratty firing towards goal but this strike was excellently saved by the foot of Tim Heimer. A corner followed and Hugh Douglas had Heimer rooted but the header flashed beyond the post.
Dobbs found the net with 20 minutes to go but unfortunately for the striker, it wasn't his 12th of the campaign as he hit the side netting after beating Heimer.
In the final stages of the game, Harps didn't find much joy in the attacking third. Flood fired narrowly wide while Duffy had a similar effort blocked in the last minute. Porter got on the end of the corner that followed but Wexford held on.
Finn Harps: Tim Heimer; Caoimhin Porter, Noe Baba, Keith Cowan, Shane McMonagle, Kevin Jordan (Max Johnston, 71); Daithi McCallion, Damian Duffy, Ryan Flood; Sean O'Donnell, Filip Da Silva (Aaron McLaughlin, 57)
Subs not used: Oisin Cooney, Ellis Farrar, Michael Harris, Katlego Mashigo.
Booked: Damian Duffy (38).
Wexford: Noel Heffernan; Benjamin Lynch, Hugh Douglas(Sean Fitzpatrick, 79), Reece Webb; Corban Piper, Kian Corbally, James Crawford, Brandon McCann; Aaron Dobbs, Danny Furlong (Mark Hanratty, 61), Karl Chambers(Darragh Levingston, 61).
Subs not used: Colm Cox, Matthew Dunne, Evan Farrell Kaylem Harnett, Jordan Tallon
Booked: Ben Lynch (57).
Referee: Paul Norton.
ExtraTime.ie Player of the Match: Aaron Dobbs (Wexford).
