Another defeat for Waterford United
Wexford Youths 4 l Waterford United 0
Wexford Youths hammered a depleted Waterford team in Ferrycarrig Park on Friday night last. The result leaves the Blues rooted to the bottom of the league table and many questions have yet to be answered about the future of the club. Due to a variety of reasons manager Roddy Collins had to plan without a number of players and only one substitute was available for this South Est Derby encounter. The win saw Wexford retain their lead at the top of the table.
Although it was widely expected that the club would have a total of six new players involved for this game, it became apparent that there is an underlining issueÓ with the club signing players in the eyes of the FAI but it's hope that this will be sortedÓ before this Friday's home clash with Finn Harps.
The Blues fell behind to a controversial goal in two regards on eight minutes when it looked as if Ethan Boyle was clearly fouled on the edge of the area and after Jimmy Dermody played in Danny Furlong, he looked offside but the whistle never sounded as the centre forward tucked the ball past keeper Robert Birdsall.
Graham Doyle, who was playing his 100th game for the club, came to the hosts rescue with a smart save on 24 minutes when the impressive Daniel Pender took a pass from Glenn Hawe on the rightlside of the penalty area but his well struck rightlfooted shot was superbly tipped over the bar.
Waterford defender Shane Dineen should have done better with a chance that fell his way four minutes later when he rose unchallenged to meet a leftlwing Anthony McAlavey free kick at the back post but he couldn't direct his header on target.
The highly impressive Wexford Youths player John Peare could have increased his lead on 29 minutes when he took a pass from Danny Furlong but his cross to the back post looking for Jimmy Dermody was magnificently cleared by Blues defender Shane Mackey.
A second Wexford Youths goal arrived on the board five minutes later when Craig Wall picked up possession of the ball in the middle of the park after a clearance of the Blues defence and after setting John Peare into the clear down the right, he brilliantly finished over Robert Birdsall to the far corner of the net from 12 yards.
Peare was involved in the thick of the action less than sixty seconds later when the winger was clipped inside the area by Shane Dineen in the view of assistant referee Darren Corcoran and Danny Furlong gave keeper Birdsall no chance with an exquisite spot kick to put his side firmly in the driving seat.
Any remote chance that Roddy Collins side had of getting back into the game in the second half vanished within 24 seconds of the restart when a loose clearance saw Danny Furlong slip the ball out to the left for Jimmy Dermody and he beat Robert Birdsall with a crisp shot to the far corner of the net.
Furlong volleyed over the bar from deep inside the penalty area after a Ryan Delaney cross on 52 minutes before the Blues had a half chance on 65 minutes when Shaun Corcoran's effort was blocked into the path of Glenn Hawe but his shot flashed wide of the leftlhand post.
It has to be said that Waterford kept battling with Daniel Pender really working hard up front and he turned provider for Anthony McAlavey on 74 minutes however his effort was saved well by Graham Doyle before the former took a pass from Mikie Rowe three minutes later but keeper Doyle saved superbly again.
Wexford Youths. Graham Doyle,Craig McCabe, Jimmy Dermody, Ryan Delaney, Gary Delaney, Lee Grace (Paul Brennan `76), Kenny (David Doyle `76), Craig Wall (Peter Sutton `88),Danny Furlong, John Peare, Conor English.
Waterford United. Robert Birdsall,Dean Reidy, Shaun Corcoran, Shane Mackey,Shane Dineen, Ethan Boyle, Bobbi Donoghue, Glean Hawe,Mikie Rowe, Anthony McAlavey (Thomas Croke `75),Daniel Pender.
Referee: Simon Rogers (Dublin)
