Details

Date Time League Season
15 October 2023 3:00 pm LOI Men's First Division 2023

Match Report

Wexford and Cobh Share Spoils in Thriller

Wexford FC staged a comeback in a frantic 3-3 draw with Cobh Ramblers at Ferrycarrig Park as spoils were shared in this playoff rehearsal.

Cobh left back Cian Browne had the chance to make a hot start in the afternoon chill for the away side, but his sweetly struck volley flew just a tad too high to call Wexford keeper Charlie Heffernan into action 8 minutes in.

Kian Corbally could have done better in the 12th minute, presented with the ball and a two on two situation after a stray Cobh pass, but he took the shot on himself and only found Lee Steacy’s gloves.

Wexford then completely shot themselves in the foot. Cian O’ Malley, usually so reliable, sent a usual routine header back to his keeper wayward, leaving Heffernan scrambling to keep the ball out of the net. The Wexford keeper did just that but could only flick the ball onto the post and into the path of the waiting Mickie Rowe, who tapped into an empty net to give the away side the lead 17 minutes in. 

Two minutes later Rowe again found himself in the Wexford penalty area, this time being brought down by Brandon McCann as the referee pointed to the spot. Jack Doherty stepped up to roll the ball into the bottom right corner to make it three in three against his old side as Cobh doubled their lead.

Wexford should have pulled one back on the half hour mark, but Thomas Oluwa couldn’t direct his header past Steacy from six yards out.

Oluwa then had his cross in the 38th minute blocked by the arm of Dean Larkin, and Wexford earned themselves a penalty of their own, which Oluwa cooly dispatched into the bottom corner to pull one back for the home side.

Just four minutes after the restart Cobh had restored their two goal lead however, a wonder goal by Wilson Waweru, curling a sublime effort from 25 yards into the very upper reaches of Heffernan’s net.

Wexford pulled one back through substitute Conor Levingston 72 minutes in, the ball ricocheting straight to his feet off the post and he slotted home to make the deficit one.

On 77 minutes it was the other Levingston brother, Darragh, with the golden touch to draw Wexford level, coming onto a chipped pass with a wonderful touch and a delightful dinked finish over Steacy to match.

Neither side could find a winner in this helter-skelter affair, but that won’t bother either team, who both have the playoff games against one another to focus on in the coming weeks.

Wexford FC

18Charlie Heffernan Goalkeeper
4Hugh Douglas 2 Defender
8Brandon McCann Midfielder
11Mark Hanratty Midfielder
12Luka Lovic Midfielder
16Corban Piper Midfielder
17Kian Corbally 10 Midfielder
20Reece Webb 15 Defender
23Cian O’Malley Defender
24Max Kelly 3 Midfielder 31'
28Thomas Oluwa 14 Forward 38'
25Aaron Doran Midfielder
10Aaron Dobbs 17 Forward
7Karl Chambers Forward
14Conor Levingston 28 Midfielder 72'
3Ben Lynch 24 Midfielder
26Luke Browne Defender
2Darragh Levingston 4 Midfielder 77'
15Danny Furlong 20 Forward
9Eoin Kenny Forward

Cobh Ramblers

1Lee Steacy Goalkeeper
3Cian Browne Defender
5Breandan Frahill Defender
6Charlie Lyons Defender
7Wilson Waweru 21 Forward 49'
8Pierce Phillips 28 Midfielder
10Jack Doherty 18 Midfielder 20'
11Mikie Rowe 16 Midfielder 17'
17Dean Larkin Midfielder
34James O’Leary Defender
39Jason Abbott Midfielder
30Darragh Burke Goalkeeper
16Luke Desmond 11 Midfielder
15Alec Byrne 4 Midfielder
12Darragh O’Sullivan Connell Defender
18Matthew McKevitt 10 Defender
21Liam Kervick 7 Midfielder
4Justin Eguaibor 15 Defender
28Dale Holland 8 Midfielder
20Charlie O’Brien Defender
  • 93'

    The full time whistle blows with the points shared at Ferrycarrig Park, early goals by Rowe and Doherty gave Cobh a commanding early lead, but a Thomas Oluwa penalty gave Wexford hope. Waweru scored a screamer to almost dash those hopes but goals from both Levingston brothers left honours even in a very entertaining affair.

  • 91'

    Corner by Levingston is an excellent delivery across the face but no teammate can supply a touch to finish

  • 87'

    Speculative overhead effort by McKevitt goes high and wide. Neither side going all out to find this winner yet

  • 83'

    My word what a game! For a game with little on the line both sides refuse to give in, could be a winner yet

  • 78'

    Straight after the restart Holland has a wonderful chance to put Cobh in front, but Heffernan comes out to close of the shot and blocks well

  • 77'

    And now the other Levingston brother has them level, a wonderful control and dinked finish past Steacy by the midfielder as he latched onto a chipped pass draws Wexford level

  • 72'

    Wexford pull one back through Conor Levingston, the ball coming kindly to him after a shot ricochets of the post, and he slots it home to make the deficit just one

  • 62'

    All three goalscorer for Cobh have been replaced, obviously not wanting to risk their star attackers any further

  • 61'

    Header by the rising Dobbs flashes past the post

  • 59'

    Long range strike by Douglas appeases the calling crowd, but his strike causes Steacy little bother

  • 57'

    With marksmen Dobbs, Oluwa and Furlong on the pitch Wexford have some serious firepower, but Cobh have begun this half well and it'll be a tough ask for the boys in purple to make a comeback

  • 53'

    Hammer blow for Wexford who would have fancied themselves to get the next goal in this tie

  • 46'

    Absolute peach by Waweru to regain Cobh's two goal lead, curling an effort from 25 yards into the very top right corner, a gorgeous goal, right on the postage stamp

  • 46'

    Back on here at Ferrycarrig Park

  • 45'

    Halftime comes with Cobh one goal in the ascendency but Wexford with the momentum. Two quick fire goals by Rowe and Doherty left the home side shook, though after Oluwa tucked away his penalty Cobh will have to be wary of Wexford grabbing a second despite all of the Ramblers impressive play in the opening 35 minutes. Second half will be tough to call, still anyones game.

  • 44'

    Cobh have dropped the pace they began the game with, Wexford are procuring some good possession in the Cobh half as we near half time

  • 38'

    Which Oluwa himself steps up to dispatch in a very similar fashion to Doherty's goal, low and to the keepers right. Wexford are back in this

  • 38'

    A cross by Oluwa strikes the arm of Larkin and the referee gives the penalty

  • 35'

    This heavily altered Wexford starting eleven don't have the same resilient look the side has carried in so many of their recent games

  • 31'

    Max Kelly is the first in the referees book

  • 29'

    Oluwa found himself six yards out on the end of a wonderful cross by Corbally, but he couldn't direct his header away from the grateful frame of Steacy who blocked.

  • 24'

    Another header by Douglas, this time on target, but central and tame

  • 20'

    In a blink Wexford are down by two, and they only have themselves to blame

  • 20'

    Doherty slots it away low to the keepers left for his 18th goal of the season

  • 19'

    Mickie Rowe causes trouble fro Wexford again as McCann brings him down in the box and its a penalty to Cobh

  • 16'

    Absolute calamity at the back for Wexford, what should be a routine header back to Heffernan by O'Malley leaves the keeper scrambling to keep it out of his own net, which he managed to do, knocking the ball onto the post only for Mickie Rowe to follow up first a roll Cobh into the lead

  • 12'

    Some very poor passing out from the back gave Corbally the ball with acres of space to drive at the Cobh box and find his shot, but he couldn't beat Steacy who got down fast and held on tightly.

  • 8'

    The ball drops perfectly in the box for Cobh left back Browne to strike and his volley is well hit but just marginally too high

  • 2'

    Header at the back post by Douglas goes wide as he can't quite stretch far enough to get it on target

  • 2'

    Doherty hits the wall and then shoots well over after the ball fell back to him

  • 1'

    Early free kick right on the edge of the Wexford box after a foul by Piper

  • 1'

    Cobh kick off to get this one underway

  • The teams walk out to some joyous cheers by the home fans, who know they can enjoy the occasion now, no mater the score

  • Wexford are unbeaten in the league in 12, a run that has seen them drag themselves up to fourth and confirm their playoff spot. Wexford will be keen to extend this run into the post season, but will this be 13 unlucky for the Slaneysiders?

  • Their previous game in Cork was a fantastic one, a late penalty by former Wexford player Jack Doherty, who also scored in his first return to Ferrycarrig Park earlier in the season, saw Cobh snatch a point at the death.

  • Its a balmy day down in the Southeast today, a cold nip in the slight breeze as the league comes to a close as winter approaches

  • Cobh Ramblers travel to Ferrycarrig Park this afternoon to play out the penultimate game of the season. Both sides have confirmed their spots in the playoff come the seasons conclusion, so both will be looking for a win to give a psychological edge whilst trying not to show their hand should the teams be drawn against one another.

Past Meetings

(Round 25)
2 - 2
LOI Men's First Division
St. Colman's Park

Cobh Ramblers FC 2-2 Wexford FC

(Round 17)
2 - 1
LOI Men's First Division
Ferrycarrig Park

Wexford FC 2-1 Cobh Ramblers FC

(Round 2)
2 - 1
LOI Men's First Division
St. Colman's Park

Cobh Ramblers FC 2-1 Wexford FC

(Round 28)
2 - 2
LOI Men's First Division
Ferrycarrig Park

Wexford FC 2-2 Cobh Ramblers

(Round 20)
0 - 3
LOI Men's First Division
St. Colman's Park

Cobh Ramblers v Wexford FC

(Round 10)
4 - 2
LOI Men's First Division
Ferrycarrig Park

Wexford FC v Cobh Ramblers

(Round 2)
2 - 3
LOI Men's First Division
St. Colman's Park

Cobh Ramblers v Wexford FC

(Series 22)
3 - 1
LOI Men's First Division
Ferrycarrig Park

Wexford FC v Cobh Ramblers

(Series 13)
3 - 2
LOI Men's First Division
St. Colman's Park

Cobh Ramblers v Wexford FC

(Series 4)
1 - 2
LOI Men's First Division
Ferrycarrig Park

Wexford FC v Cobh Ramblers

(Series 16)
0 - 4
LOI Men's First Division
Ferrycarrig Park

Wexford FC v Cobh Ramblers

(Series 7)
4 - 0
LOI Men's First Division
St. Colman's Park

Cobh Ramblers v Wexford FC

Ground

Ferrycarrig Park
Ferrycarrig Park, Kilpatrick, The Borough District of Wexford, County Wexford, Leinster, Y35 E296, Ireland

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