A second consecutive away trip this time brought Wexford to Limerick, as we faced Treaty United in a must-win clash at Markets Field.
Wexford made just one change to the starting XI that faced Cork City last week, with Zayd Abada starting in place of Ryan Butler. As for Treaty United, the home side was notably without key defender Darren Nwankwo after he was sent off against Kerry in their most recent match.
The first real chance of the game fell to Treaty striker Dare Kareem, who, with eleven minutes gone, had his effort bravely cleared off the line by Rhys Bartley.
A clash of heads between Mark Byrne and Kian Dignam saw play stop briefly, before Treaty would win a freekick in a dangerous area with 22 minutes gone. Striker Jake Doyle would clear for a Wexford counter, with Treaty midfielder Colin Conroy bringing down Jamie Wynne on the break for the game’s first yellow card.
Wynne would pivot from defense to attack with Wexford’s first shot on target; a well-saved shot into the palms of Jack Brady.
With 28 minutes gone, Mikie Rowe would surge forward before delivering a cross in the Treaty box, striking the hand of a Treaty defender, and winning Wexford a penalty.
The captain would step up and coolly convert for his eleventh goal of the season, giving Wexford a thoroughly deserved lead.
Wexford’s defense would hold steady until the interval; frustrating striker Dare Kareem and limiting the home side’s ability to create anything of note.
The visitors would end the half with a deserved lead.
The first few minutes of the second half saw neither side with any chance of note, bar a tame header over from Colin Conroy.
With an hour gone, Jake Doyle would have a curled effort blocked on the line, denying Wexford a deserved second.
The 71st minute would see the introduction of Gideon Tetteh in place of goalscorer Mikie Rowe, with Jamie Wynne earning the captain’s armband for the remainder of the game.
Bandaged and bruised, Liam Doyle would make a fine tackle to deny Ben Lynch’s effort with seventy-four minutes gone.
After a brilliant performance with no shortage of pace and trickery, Gavin Hodgins would be replaced by on-loan Waterford man Zak O’Sullivan in the 78th minute.
Only on for a matter of seconds, O’Sullivan would see his effort on goal clip the right post as Wexford searched for a killer goal.
Moments later, Paul Martin would make his best save of the night from Billy Regan’s late header, the home side’s final effort on goal.
Wynne would have another shot on target, Wexford’s sixth and final of the evening; that was once again saved by Jack Brady in the 85th minute.
Wexford would see out late pressure from the home side, including the unlikeliest of half-chances from Treaty goalkeeper Jack Brady, to earn a well-deserved victory on the road.
Attention now turns towards Wexford’s next fixture at home to Finn Harps next Friday, 11th of September.
Treaty United: Brady (C), Lynch, Conroy, Byrne, Lynch, Foley, Murphy, Manning, Whelan, Kareem, Cantwell
Wexford: Martin, Bartley, Rowe (C), Abada, Harnett, Wynne, L. Doyle, Ritchie, Hodgins, J. Doyle, Dignam
Scorers: Rowe (29’)
Attendance: 596 (FAI Connect)
Report: David Murtagh
