3 v 0 
Wexford FCDetails
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 April 2021 | 7:45 pm | LOI Men's First Division | 2021 |
Match Report
Trio on target as Athlone stay top
Athlone Town had a deserved 3-0 home win over Wexford FC in the League of Ireland First Division, with goals from Jamie Hollywood and James Donna and Shane Barnes.
The Town were full value for their win and controlled the game for long periods, with Kurtis Byrne and Adam Wixted causing the Slaneysiders a lot of issues.
Wexford had decent spells of pressure but were unable to make it count and although they stayed in the game for long periods, their search for their first points of the season continues after they were unable to breach the Athlone defence.
The league leaders burst out of the traps with the elusive Wixted going close with headers twice early on, but he could not direct them on target.
The Town would not have to wait long for their opening goal as Jamie Hollywood broke the deadlock after 18 minutes.
The attacking midfielder cut in and finished a well taken shot with his right foot inside the Wexford box.
Although Wexford sought to get back into the game after the break with the power and pace of Success Edogan proving troublesome, the hosts were able to control the tempo of the game with Kurtis Byrne and Adam Wixted proving to be a handful for the Wexford defence.
The Slaneysiders made a brighter start to the second half and piled the pressure on their hosts, with a succession of corners in the initial minutes after the restart.
However, they always looked vulnerable to conceding on the counter-attack to Athlone and were left reliant on last-ditch interventions Paul Cleary and Luke Turner to stop them from going further behind.
Although Wexford continued to push for the equaliser it was the hosts who would strike next.
Tom Murphy pulled off a great save from an Adam Wixted opportunity, but was unable to prevent the follow-up shot from James Doona who finished a left-footed effort.
Despite this hammer blow to the visitors, they tried to finish on a positive note with Kyle Robinson forcing Micheál Schlingermann into a point-blank save late on.
Rather than be rewarded for their positive play, Youths were instead punished.
Two minutes from full time, Shane Barnes picked up a pass, flicked it over his head and buried it past Tom Murphy for what could well be a goal of the season contender.
The result sees both sides continue to go in opposite directions; as Athlone consolidate their position at the top of the league; but Wexford stay on the summit and have yet to register a point, with their last win coming in July 2020, ironically against Athlone Town.
Timeline
Past Meetings
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 |
Ground
| Athlone Town Stadium |
|---|
| Athlone Town Stadium, Old Rail Trail, Garrycastle, Athlone East Rural Electoral Division, The Municipal District of Athlone — Moate, County Westmeath, Leinster, N37 N1F2, Ireland |
Full time here as Athlone claim a deserved win. Wexford were dogged and stuck in the game for long periods but ultimately lacked the class to get near a high flying Athlone side.
The Athlone man picks up a ball from Byrne flicks it over his man and buries it for a goal that would be worth the entrance fee on it's own, if a crowd was allowed in of course.
3-0 to Athlone!! What a goal from Barnes.
A 35-yard strike from Wixted is brilliantly saved by Murphy.
Robinson has a left-foot shot from close range but Schlingermann pulls out a superb point-blank save.
A shot from Wixted is well saved but it falls to Doona who buries it with his left foot.
2-0 to Athlone
Double sub for Wexford as Jack Larkin and Kyle Robinson replace Edogun and Manahan.
It beats everyone and whizzes past the Athlone post.
Wexford have a free kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the Athlone box.
Harry Groome replaces Karl Fitzsimons for Wexford Youths.
Still 1-0 here. Athlone deserve their lead, but Wexford are far from out of this and have enjoyed good spells of pressure in the first 15 minutes or so of the second half.
Hollywood looked primed to score his second goal of the night but Cleary comes across to make yet another vital interception.
Fox plays a cross to the back post for Wexford but Daly is able to nod it clear.
Athlone break from a Wexford corner. Good build-up play sees the ball fall to Curtis Byrne who shoots but Cleary gets back to make a great block.
Wexford have started the second half well and are looking to find Edogan at every opportunity.
Second half underway in Athlone
Half time. Athlone take deserved lead into the break but Wexford are still in this game. Join us in the second half to see how this turns out.
Success Edogun tries to latch on to a long ball over the top but he is guided out of play by the Athlone defence.
Meaney nods on a long ball which Curtis Byrne tries to run on to, but the Wexford defence are able to cut it out.
Fox shoots from the edge of the box, but Cantwell gets across well to make the block.
Wexford go close. Fitzsimons can't direct a good cross on target. Athlone let off the hook there.
Big delay in the game here. A hand injury to Jimmy Corcoran and Tom Murphy is on in his place
Wixted pulls it back to Meaney who is about to pull the trigger but the linesman raises his flag.
Close! Paul Fox's left-foot shot is inches away
Jamie Hollywood opens the scoring from inside the box after some good build up play from Wixted. It's a deserved lead for the home side as they've controlled the game so far.
Goal to Athlone!
Wixted goes close with a header. Flies by Corcoran’s right hand post.
Athlone have started well with Wixted really to the fore.
Hello and welcome to Final Whistles's coverage of Athlone Town's clash with Wexford Youth's at Athlone Town Stadium