Our third game within a week ended in defeat last night, as Galway Utd ran out 2-0 winners at Ferrycarrig Park. The runaway league leaders scored either side of the interval, with both goals coming from set plays which would have disappointed the home side. However, Wexford who were still without suspended club captain Ethan Boyle and manager James Keddy, put up a decent effort in what was always going to be a difficult game against the Connacht side.
The first half started with both sides trying to feel their way into the game with Wexford allowing Galway to keep possession among their backline and maintaining a deeper defensive shape. The first real chance of the game came after a quarter of an hour, when the Wexford defence failed to deal with Brendan Clarke’s long ball which would have enabled McCarthy an effort on Charlie Heffernan’s goal but for an excellent last-ditch intervention from the experienced Hugh Douglas.
This proved to be an early warning sign for Wexford, as Galway would effectively threaten from long balls and set plays throughout. Just minutes following Douglas’ block, an in-swinging Conor McCormack corner crept in at the Wexford near post amidst a tangle between Aaron Dobbs and a Galway attacker. Wexford FC 0-1 Galway Utd.
Wexford responded well to the early setback and would fashion their best chance of the first half in the 27th minute. Kian Corbally produced some neat footwork to jink away from three Galway men before finding Brandon McCann in space. He spotted the overlapping run of Reece Webb on the right-hand side and delivered an excellent cross which Aaron Dobbs was unlucky not to direct on target.
Towards the end of the first half Galway came on strong again, with Heffernan saving well to his left from a Lomboto header, and a mixture of the Wexford netminder and Douglas denying Stephen Walsh who barrelled through on goal from yet another long ball. Half Time: Wexford FC 0-1 Galway Utd.
Walsh picked up where he left off at the start of the second half, when his audacious left-footed half volley from 25 yards had Heffernan beaten at full stretch, unluckily for him and to the relief of Wexford his effort kissed the post and was subsequently cleared.
In the 58th minute Galway would score their second and in a rather bizarre manner. Corbally was adjudged to have fouled a Galway midfielder, but in truth there appeared to be no wrongdoing in his attempt to win the ball back. Galway took the resulting free quickly catching the Wexford defence off guard which allowed Edward McCarthy time to pick his spot and slam home past Heffernan to double their advantage.
It did not prove to be Stephen Walsh’s day in front of goal as he would rattle the goal frame yet again with a toe-poked effort following some impressive hold up play from Robert Manley.
In the 84th Wexford would curse the crossbar which had just saved them a minute previously. Sean Fitzpatrick who had been introduced early in the second half for Ben Lynch was a noticeable bright spark throughout his second-half cameo. His first effort was blocked well by the sliding Galway defender, and his second, a delicate left footed dink had Clarke rooted to the spot but unfortunately it clipped off the top of the bar.
Galway saw the rest if the game out and earned the three points which sees them remain top of the pile, ten points clear of second placed Waterford. Wexford sit in sixth but only three points behind Bray Wanderers in fifth.
We are back in action on Friday June 23rd, when we travel to Ballybofey to take on Finn Harps in search of three points and a second half of the season push for a play-off spot.
Wexford FC: Heffernan (GK), Webb, Douglas, Dunne, Crawford, Lynch (S Fitzpatrick, 49’), Chambers, McCann (C Levingston, 81’), Piper, Corbally, Dobbs (C).
