3 v 0 
Athlone TownVideo
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 March 2023 | 7:45 pm | LOI Men's First Division | 2023 |
Match Report
Wexford deal Athlone first loss of the season
Wexford FC earned their first win of the season with a 3-0 win over Athlone Town in Ferrycarrig Park tonight.
Aaron Dobbs gave the hosts the lead with a nice header 11 minutes in. An Aaron Robinson brace in the second half would made it comfortable for Wexford in the end.
This could have been very different as Athlone were inches away from taking the lead just six minutes in. Enda Minogue collected a Reece Webb cross and the visitors went right down the other end. The ball found its way to Isaie Louis on the right-hand side and he smacked the post from just outside the box. Wexford took heed of the warning sign.
Five minutes later Aaron Robinson went on a nice run down the left wing and played it off to Mark Hanratty. Hanratty sent in a cross and Aaron Dobbs rose highest and found the back of the net. For a side where confidence may not have been high, this was a perfect start.
In the 35th minute, Wexford had a huge penalty call waved away. Dobbs was played through and got behind the Athlone defence, bearing down on goal. Noah Van Geenen, who gave away a penalty last week, barged the Wexford attacker from behind but the protests were waved away. The hosts were further infuriated a minute later when Athlone won a free in the middle of the park for a similar foul and a scuffle ensued. Thankfully, this moment didn’t decide the outcome.
Wexford doubled their lead in the 50th minute. Aaron Connolly fouled Dobbs on the left hand side and Hanratty swung in the free. Minogue went to punch clear but only hit it as far as Robinson on the edge of the area. Robinson looped the ball over all the bodies in front and found the back of the net to set Wexford’s sights firmly on a first win of the season.
Robinson topped off a man of the match performance in the 60th minute after Hanratty laid it off for him on the edge of the area. With a first-time strike, Wexford’s #6 found the top corner in superb fashion to cap off a lovely performance.
Athlone never truly threatened and now have their first loss. They’ll look to rebound against Waterford next week at home. Wexford should gain confidence from this win when they travel to Ballybofey next week.
Timeline
| 10. Aaron Dobbs | 11' | |
| 6. Aaron Robinson | 36' | |
| 42' | 15. Haji Abdikadir | |
| 46' | Haji Abdikadir Charles Mutawe | |
| 49' | 8. Aaron Connolly | |
| 6. Aaron Robinson | 50' | |
| 6. Aaron Robinson | 60' | |
| 60' | Aaron Connolly Oisin Duffy | |
| Brandon McCann Aaron Doran | 70' | |
| 72' | Donal Curtin Valerii Dolia | |
| 72' | Jack Kavanagh Matthew Leal | |
| Aaron Dobbs Danny Furlong | 80' | |
| Conor Levingston Darragh Levingston | 86' | |
| Reece Webb Jordan Adeyemo | 86' | |
| James Crawford Matthew Dunne | 86' | |
| 87' | Noah van Geenen Aaron McBride | |
| 92' | 18. Oisin Duffy |
Past Meetings
|
(Round 31)
2 - 0LOI Men's First Division
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town 2-0 Wexford FC |
|
(Round 23)
3 - 1LOI Men's First Division
Ferrycarrig Park Wexford FC v Athlone Town |
|
(Round 13)
0 - 3LOI Men's First Division
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town v Wexford FC |
|
(Round 3)
2 - 1LOI Men's First Division
Ferrycarrig Park Wexford FC v Athlone Town |
|
(Series 23)
0 - 2LOI Men's First Division
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town v Wexford FC |
|
(Series 14)
4 - 4LOI Men's First Division
Ferrycarrig Park Wexford FC v Athlone Town |
|
(Series 5)
3 - 0LOI Men's First Division
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town v Wexford FC |
3 - 6eLOI-Group B
Online Event Athlone Town v Wexford FC |
|
(Series 13)
0 - 1LOI Men's First Division
Ferrycarrig Park Wexford FC v Athlone Town |
|
(2nd Round)
5 - 3FAI Cup
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town v Wexford FC |
|
(Series 4)
1 - 3LOI Men's First Division
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town v Wexford FC |
Officials
| Referee |
|---|
| David Connolly |
Ground
| Ferrycarrig Park |
|---|
| Ferrycarrig Park, Kilpatrick, The Borough District of Wexford, County Wexford, Leinster, Y35 E296, Ireland |
Duffy fires a cross to Hickey who heads wide. It's full time and Wexford have their first win of the season with a resounding 3-0 win.
It's laid off to Robinson who goes for the hat-trick from outside the box. He skies this one. An excellent performance nonetheless.
Louie is played through and is one on one with Heffernan but drags the shot just wide. Seems to be one of those nights for Athlone.
Goal! Looks as if it's definitely game set and match after Hanratty lays it off for Robinson who fires it into the top corner! A sublime strike for his second of the night.
Louie cuts onto his left and forces a good save off Heffernan from a good distance. First decent effort for Athlone this half.
Goal! A Levingston free isn't punched far enough by Minogue and Robinson sends it in, dinking everyone in his wake. Wexford look like they'll have their first win of the season now.
Back underway.
Levingston puts in a cross that's cleared. Robinson then has a pop from way out but it's over. Now half time.
Two minutes added on.
Athlone then win a free for a similar challenge in the middle of the park and a scuffle ensues. Aaron Robinson is booked.
Wow. Wexford have a big call for a penalty waved away. Dobbs is played through and Noah Van Geenen barges him in the back. Wexford have been hard done by there.
Athlone starting to turn the screw a bit, but no concrete chances. Mostly quite since Dobbs' goal.
Kavanagh swings in a corner for Athlone and Pierrott is free, but can't quite get the contact. Chance passes.
Goal! Aaron Robinson makes a nice run down the left, gives it to Hanratty who crosses for Dobbs who heads home! 1-0 Wexford.
Reece Webb puts in a low cross and Minogue after an initial spill collects.
And we're off.
Minutes silence before proceedings.
The Athlone team is now also in.
The Wexford team is now in.
Wexford come into this one having lost both of their opening matches. Athlone are the polar opposite, scoring a perfect six points from a possible six so far. A win tonight could be a big confidence booster for the hosts.
Hello and welcome to finalwhistle.ie for live coverage of tonight's First Division encounter between Wexford FC and Athlone Town. I'm Seán Comber and I'll be keeping you updated throughout.