Details

Date Time League Season
7 July 2023 7:45 pm LOI Men's First Division 2023

Match Report

Athlone stun Wexford on South East

Athlone Town took apart Wexford FC in a 4-1 first half demolition of Wexford at Ferrycarrig Park to gain a massive three points in the promotion race.

Wexford had the ball flying into the top corner only five seconds into the game as Aaron Dobbs smashed an effort past Enda Minogue, but the goal was ruled out for handball despite Wexford protests. 

Darragh Levingston forced a fairly textbook save from Minogue after about 15 minutes and minus a poor free kick from Athlone’s Ukrainian number ten Valerii Dolia, there was little action in the opening 20 minutes.

That was not to be the case for the next ten minutes, as three goals flew in at an alarming rate, beginning with a wonderstrike by Athlone winger Jamar Campion-Hinds who sent Wexford’s Corban Piper the wrong way with a clever step over as he cut inside on his left, with which he powered a drive straight into the top corner from 25 yards, giving Wexford keeper Charlie Heffernan no chance of stopping 21 minutes in. Wexford were able to reply sharply as four minutes later Aaron Dobbs latched onto a long hopeful pass forward, smashing the bouncing ball into the far left corner of the goal with a fine finish from a narrow angle.

Poor Wexford defending allowed Frantz Pierrot to notch his 16th goal of the league season when he was left unmarked in the middle of the area, providing the simple finish past Heffernan on the half hour mark. After this, Wexford had obviously felt that was enough drama for one half, but Athlone were only getting started.

Two identical goals in the 40th and 44th minute put the Westmeath side firmly in the driving seat, as firstly right back Abdikadir broke past the Wexford defensive line down the right hand side, before squaring the ball directly across the six yard line for Dolia to notch on the far side of the goal. Athlone obviously didn’t feel Wexford had learnt their lesson as just four minutes later Campion-Hinds supplied Matthew Leal to grab a fourth before the halftime whistle in a move that looked like a replay of the third goal.

Halftime came to the mercy of Wexford and when the game resumed it was end to end, but lacked any real tenacity from either side. Dobbs and Fitzgerald went close on multiple occasions for Wexford, who couldn’t maintain a period of dominant pressure due to Athlone’s counter attacking abilities. Pierrot exemplified his power and pace by rolling Boyle on the halfway line with his back to goal before bearing down on the Wexford net only to pull shot low and wide

There were more yellow cards than shots on goal in the second period it seemed as Wexford developed a frustrated edge the more time ticked on. The South East side never looked to trouble Athlone’s lead in their search for the miracle comeback. Athlone secured themselves in fourth place for the time being with the win, while Wexford continue to struggle post the mid season break and will look to put this one firmly behind them moving forward.

Wexford FC

18Charlie Heffernan Goalkeeper
2Darragh Levingston Midfielder
3Ben Lynch 13 Midfielder
4Hugh Douglas 9 Defender
5Ethan Boyle Defender 16'
10Aaron Dobbs Forward 25'
80'
11Mark Hanratty 21 Midfielder
15Danny Furlong 20 Forward
16Corban Piper 24 Midfielder
17Kian Corbally Midfielder
26Luke Browne Defender
1Colm Cox Goalkeeper
24Max Kelly 16 Midfielder
7Karl Chambers Forward
23Cian O’Malley Defender
20Reece Webb 15 Defender 55'
9Eoin Kenny 4 Forward 70'
25Aaron Doran Midfielder
21Sean Fitzpatrick 11 Forward
13James Crawford 3 Defender 71'

Athlone Town

1Enda Minogue Goalkeeper
2German Fuentes Rodriguez 5 Defender
3Jack Kavanagh Midfielder
4Noah van Geenen 26 Defender 42'
6Patrick Hickey Defender
8Aaron Connolly Midfielder
9Frantz Pierrot Forward 30'
10Valerii Dolia 28 Forward 40'
15Haji Abdikadir 18 Midfielder
20Jamar Campion-Hinds Midfielder 21'
25Matthew Leal 29 Defender 44'
61'
30Vladislav Velikin Goalkeeper
5Daniel McKenna 2 Midfielder
7Adam Lennon Midfielder
17Matthew McCarrick Forward
18Oisin Duffy 15 Midfielder
24Josh McGlone Midfielder
26Donal Curtin 4 Defender
28Michael Peprah 10 Defender
29Néhémie Lamtoukou 25 Forward
  • 91'

    Peprah's sharp header at the front post is well tipped over the bar by Heffernan

  • 85'

    Its been a hearty effort by Wexford in this second half to keep going and create some openings, but in all honesty they never looked likely to trouble Athlone who have been in first gear this half

  • 80'

    Dobbs also gets a yellow for dissent

  • 79'

    Mutawe gets carded for a poor tackle which the Wexford players show their annoyance to with a few pushes and shoves

  • 71'

    And now a booking for Crawford as the caution count grows for Wexford

  • 70'

    Kenny picks up a yellow for one of the most blatant cynical fouls you're likely to ever see

  • 67'

    Game is very end to end, with chances flowing for both sides

  • 66'

    Dobbs again shows his threat with a wicked effort from the edge of the area which flies just over

  • 63'

    Pierrot rolls Boyle on the halfway line with an immense show of strength and races down on goal but fails to double his tally pulling the shot wide of the left hand post

  • 61'

    Leal fouls on the edge of his area and receives a caution. From the resulting free kick Levingston drives low and test Minogue who spills but the ball is cleared

  • 59'

    Nearly a goal for the young Fitzpatrick who gets on the end of a Boyle long ball but his effort clips the foot of the Athlone keeper who rushed out to meet him

  • 55'

    Yellow for Webb after a cynical pull of the jersey to slow an attack

  • 53'

    Tame volleyed effort by Dobbs causes no issues for Minogue who collects and looks to attack quickly

  • 49'

    Athlone should see this game out with ease, and their pace in the counter as Wexford push for a lifeline means there is a real chance the rout has not yet finished

  • 46'

    Triple substitution for Wexford who will need a Herculean second half performance to salvage something here tonight

  • 45'

    That was a demolition job by Athlone who have been ruthless in making Wexford pay for any mishaps in the back line. Wexford will be shellshocked walking into the dressing room having conceded four despite competing well for most of the half, it's very difficult to see them coming back into this one. Half time; Athlone 4-1 Wexford

  • 44'

    Another fast break down the right hand side, another ball squared across the box, another goal. Athlone go three goals ahead with a carbon copy of a goal, this time Campion-Hinds supplying the pass and Leal the finish from an identical position as the last

  • 40'

    The game had settled slightly but a fast break by right back Abdikadir down the right hand side changed that as he squared the ball across the goal for Dolia to finish from close range.

  • 33'

    This game has not failed to entertain, that's for sure. Both teams may be looking to ease the pace after a topsy-turvy last ten minutes that will surely have taken a bit out of everyone, including this Wexford support

  • 30'

    Athlone didn't take the equaliser lying down and have already replied, taking the lead again through main man Pierrot, after some poor defending left him far too much space in the area to turn the ball easily past Heffernan in goal

  • 25'

    Aaron Dobbs is in the goals once again as he levels for Wexford with a sublime effort having hunted down a forward ball in the right channel, before ripping the bouncing ball across Minogue as it zipped into the bottom corner. 1-1

  • 23'

    The ball dropped to Hanratty on the edge of the area after floated free kick was headed back into the danger zone, but his effort doesn't have the power to beat the Athlone keeper

  • 21'

    An absolute rocket by Campion-Hinds put Athlone ahead, the winger jinked past Corban Piper with ease before unleashing one from 25 yards with his left foot arrowed straight into the top right hand corner

  • 16'

    Ethan Boyle faces a yellow after a challenge right on the edge of his area giving Athlone a fine opportunity which is spurned by a poor shot high over the bar

  • 15'

    Levingston forces a save out of Minogue, diving smartly to his left to keep out the low drive

  • 9'

    A fierce run up the centre means Patrick Hickey gets on the end of a bouncing ball 18 yards out, but an ambitious header can't find a way past Heffernan in goal

  • 5'

    The game has only just recovered from the frightening start and a long injury wait to resume normality, it was in fact a handball the goal was ruled out for, the speed of the action caught everyone in the stadium off guard

  • 1'

    An insane start to this game as Wexford have the ball in the net after what must be five seconds after a wonderful strike from Aaron Dobbs but the goal is ruled out for offside amid Wexford furious reactions

  • The teams should be fired up for this one having both lost narrowly in their last games, Athlone in particular will be looking to bounce back after two late quick fire goals condemned them to a 3-2 loss to Cobh in a massive playoff six pointer

  • The sides have faced each other twice so far this season, with both games ending 3-0 to the home side. Athlone's top marksman Frantz Pierrot bagged a hat trick in the most recent meeting and will hope to replicate the same feat here tonight

  • This game could have some important repercussions for both sides playoff pushes as the season begins to enter crunch time

  • Its a sunshine filled picture this evening at Ferrycarrig Park as Wexford play hosts to visiting Athlone Town in the bright, if pretty blustery conditions

Ground

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