Video
Details
Date | Time | League | Season |
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1 May 2023 | 3:00 pm | LOI Men's First Division | 2023 |
Match Report
Wexford ended a two-game losing streak as a goal from Aaron Dobbs in the opening half saw them claim the South East Derby bragging rights this afternoon at the RSC. A first defeat for Keith Long as manager of the Blues, a loss that kept a seven-point gap between them and Galway until kick-off at Bishopsgate this evening, a blow for the home side’s push for the title fight in these early rounds. Dobbs proved the deciding factor as Wexford’s top scorer netted again but could have added a second, but their defence was also quite sharp, Ethan Boyle a colossal force at the back as he shepherded a strong backline to a clean sheet. It was the Blues who exchanges quite a bit of possession early on, they stripped Wexford of the ball in the opening minute and almost had an early chance, Ronan Coughlan tried to find Christopher Conn-Clarke, but his cross was too high, then Barry Baggley playing as left back today whipped a cross in but also too high. Chances were coming for the hosts in those early minutes Conn-Clarke and Baggley combined well on the left wing after Roland Idowu made a steaming run toward the Wexford area, the winger crossed into the area but it flew out for a goal kick. Minutes later Idowu got past Corban Piper and fired a shot which Charlie Heffernan saved well. Wexford had all the early minutes on the back foot where we rarely saw them pressing the hosts, from their first chance they would break the deadlock, one of three changes from Friday night Brandon McCann got down the left hand side crossed into the area and Aaron Dobbs had a free header at the back post to head home, his fifth goal in 12 games to put Wexford ahead after eight minutes. The visitors had settled in well to this game since they opened the scoring, Karl Chambers tried to double their lead from range but the effort was high and looped over the Waterford goal, they were doing well in possession and looked to breach the Blues again. At the other end penalty shouts by the hosts were turned down, as Conn-Clarke had his shot strike Boyle, the referee waves away the protests, minutes later a terrific run by Baggley created space and attack Wexford, he lofted a ball into the area aimed for Ronan Coughlan but despite the forward in space and being in red hot form, he hits it over the bar. Just after the half hour mark however it was almost a second for Wexford, a huge chance for the visitors as Darragh Levingston crossed on the right wing aiming for Dobbs, the forward slipped as the cross landed into the area, could have been a huge chance as once again he was free in space, the danger ending as a Wexford shot from range but it went to the car park. Waterford pressed but the Wexford defence was a solid unit and showed little signs of falling against the Blues attack, the best late chance for the hosts came after a dangerous free kick after Giles Phillips is tackled by Ethan Boyle, Conn-Clarke stepped up but it was another ball landing in a car park at the RSC, as Wexford went in ahead at the break. Just three minutes into the second half and Waterford had a great chance to draw level through Coughlan, cutting into the Wexford area he managed to get past the defensive challenge and strike a shot across the face of goal but it went to the left of the far post. All the blues early on and they again appealed for a penalty after Idowu, who had displayed some great link up play and footwork in the build up to a Waterford attack, received the ball from Coughlan in the area but looked to have been tripped by a trailing leg the referee waved the protests away. Seconds later Dean McMenamy sent a free kick that found the head of Coughlan at the back post but just off target, Waterford were coming into the tie as a goal was still eluding them. After the hour mark they had another big chance as Connor Parsons raced down the right wing and attempted to find Coughlan in the area but Coughlan was well defended in the box as he tried to get a flick to goal. Coming toward the end of the half Wexford were having to defend with their lives, Baggley and Coughlan linking up but Boyle made an important block, minutes later Boyle again made a vital clearance with a heroic piece of defending by the captain. In the last ten minutes Corban Piper headed over from a corner as Wexford looked to add a second in what is James Keddy’s first win as manager in this derby.Dobbs nets as Wexford hand Long first defeat
Timeline
Past Meetings
(Round 1)
0 - 3LOI Men's First Division
Ferrycarrig Park Wexford FC 0-3 Waterford FC |
(Round 30)
2 - 2LOI Men's First Division
Ferrycarrig Park Wexford FC 2-2 Waterford |
(Round 24)
1 - 3LOI Men's First Division
Regional Sports Centre Waterford v Wexford FC |
(Round 12)
0 - 2LOI Men's First Division
Ferrycarrig Park Wexford FC v Waterford |
(Round 4)
2 - 1LOI Men's First Division
Regional Sports Centre Waterford v Wexford FC |
Ground
Regional Sports Centre |
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Waterford Regional Sports Centre, Inner Ring Road, Kilbarry, Waterford, County Waterford, Munster, X91 KT29, Ireland |
All over in the RSC as Wexford claim a huge scalp over Waterford in the South East derby
Five minutes added time
Make or break for Waterford now as Wassim Aouachria replaces Tunmise Sobowale.
Change for Wexford as Hugh Douglas and Conor Levingston come in for Brandon McCann and Kian Corbally
Darragh Levingston into the notebook
Change for Wexford as Aaron Doran replaces Chambers
Another change for Wateford as the experienced Eddie Nolan is on for McMenamy
Parsons races down the right wing and attempts to find Coughlan in the area but Coughlan is well defended in the box as he tries to get a flick to goal
First change for Waterford as Thomas Oluwa replaces Conn-Clarke- Waterford looking at a front two
Dean McMenamy sends a free kick that finds the head of Coughlan at the back post but just off target
Another penalty appeal as Idowu who played some fantastic football in the build up looks to have been brought down by a trailing leg but again nothing awarded
Aaron Dobbs is off for an enforced change for Wexford as Jordan Adeyemo comes in
Reece Webb clears the danger in his area but it looked goal bound as gasps can be heard around the RSC
Coughlan has a great chance at the start of the half cutting into the Wexford area but his shot goes to the left of the far post
Second half underway in Waterford
Half Time at the RSC and Wexford go in ahead at the break thanks to Aaron Dobbs, he could have notched a second as Waterford have had little chances to score
One minute of added time to end the half
Waterford win a dangerous free kick after Giles Phillips is tackled by Ethan Boyle, Conn-Clarke steps up and fires it into the car park
Niall O'Keeffe picks up the days first yellow card, his fourth of the season
Almost a second for Wexford, a huge chance for the visitors as Darragh Levingston crosses on the right wing aiming for Dobbs, the forward slips as the cross lofts into the area, could have been a huge chance as once again he was free, danger ends as a Wexford shot from range goes to the car park
Terrific run by Baggley to create space and attack Wexford, he lofts a ball into the area aimed for Ronan Coughlan but despite the forward in space and being in red hot form, he hits it over the bar
Penalty shouts by the hosts as Conn-Clarke sees his shot strike Ethan Boyle, the referee waves away the protests, Waterford still search for an equaliser
The visitors have settled in well to this game since they opened the scoring, Karl Chambers tries from range but the effort is high and loops over the Waterford goal, they are doing well in possession so far
Wexford take the lead on their first real chance of the game, Brandon McCann gets down the left hand side crosses into the area and Aaron Dobbs has a free header at the back post to head home, his 5th goal in 12 games
Idowu gets part Corban Piper and fires a shot which Charlie Heffernan saves
Waterford again with all the ball so far Chris Conn Clarke and Baggley combine well on the left wing after Roland Idowu made a steaming run toward the Wexford area, the winger crosses into the area but it flies out for a goal kick
Waterford press straight away as Wexford are robbed of possesion, Rona Coughlan tries to find Chris Conn Clarke, but his cross was too high, then Barry Baggley playing as left back today whips a cross in but also too high
Kick off in the RSC
Just 15 minutes to go to kick off, atmosphere building and the rave music is belting
Wexford were beaten 3-0 in the reverse leg and now Waterford will be out to continue a winning run against their nearest rivals this evening, form is on their side in this tie, as Wexford need a big showing to get them back on the tram tracks to fight for promotion.
Outside of Kerry at the bottom, Wexford have the worst GD of any time in the league, especially one challenging for promotion, the side haven’t scored in their last two games and now need a quick turnaround in what will be a tough away test.
Aiming to avoid a third loss in a row, Wexford come to the RSC needing points to keep their challenge alive for promotion, they slipped down the table on Friday with Athlone beating them 3-0, as Harps leapfrogged them into sixth, they now are four points adrift of the final place.
The blues are seven points adrift of their title challenges in Galway, with the teams to meet in Eamonn Deacy next weekend, Galway will be favourites to leave Longford with points this evening but in this derby Waterford cannot fall through the cracks.
Ronan Coughlan is a man on fire at the moment, he netted twice on Friday night as the side overcame Bray in a comeback win, he scored a hatrick in their Munster derby win over Treaty on Monday and last Friday night he scored four in the win over Athlone, a man in form, the league’s top scorer has 14 goals in 10 games, from 658 minutes on the field.
It has been a terrific turnaround by the Blues since Keith Long took over as manager, Waterford sat fifth in the league table with two wins from five games before he took over, since then they are on the back of a six game unbeaten run.
Wexford make three changes for this tie, aiming to reverse the result from their earlier derby with Waterford and end a recent losing streak, Darragh Levingston, Brandon McCann and Karl Chambers return with Conor Levingston, Mark Hanratty and Aaron Doran all dropping out
After their win in Bray on Friday night, Waterford have made two changes Ryan Burke is suspended and Shane Griffin drops to the bench, in comes Roland Idowu and Christopher Conn Clarke, Darragh Power and Matthew Connor continue their recoveries from injury and remain out of the squad, but Wassim Aouachria returns for selection and is named on the bench.
You are very welcome to our live text commentary of today's South East derby between Waterford and Wexford from the RSC, my name is Diarmuid Kearney and I will be reporting on this big tie early on in the First Division this afternoon, Waterford unbeaten since Keith Long took charge and are trying to keep tabs on Galway in the title race, while Wexford have slipped off course in the race for promotion, but a win today would held them try and jump Finn Harps if they suffer defeat.