U-19s pay early penalty
AN EARLY Seán Roche penalty was enough for Waterford to earn the local bragging rights after their SSE Airtricity Under-19 Southern Elite League meeting in Ferrycarrig on Tuesday.
It was certainly a deserved success for the Blues as they bossed the game for long periods, and had they had their shooting boots on they would have won by a more comfortable margin.
That said, Wexford had one or two opportunities to snatch a leveller, but it would have been rough justice on their neighbours had they not taken maximum points.
The decisive moment came with just three minutes on the clock.
The impressive Mike Nzongong powered into the area and, when he was bundled over, referee Brian Fenlon had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Up stepped Roche, who never looked like missing as he rocketed the penalty into the right-hand corner of the net out of the reach of goalkeeper Aaron Hall.
There was nothing the young netminder could do to prevent Waterford from taking the lead, but he was determined not to be beaten again, pulling off a string of impressive saves thereafter in an assured performance.
Wexford’s best chance of the first-half came in the 17th minute when Adham Masood whipped in a corner from the right. Kevin Murphy got a firm connection on the flag-kick but his header lacked direction and drifted wide of the left post.
The visitors threatened to double their advantage moments later when Colm Whelan ran on to a beautifully weighted slide-rule pass from Nzongong, but Hall was quickly off his line to make the block.
Midway through the half Hall was again called into action to push a 30-yard Darryl Walsh free-kick around the post and Waterford really should have tightened their stranglehold on the game eight minutes before the interval.
Colm Whelan showed quick feet to cut inside from the left and teed up Jack O’Donnell, but the midfielder blazed over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
Waterford continued to look the more likely after the interval, although Wexford did show glimpses of their attacking threat.
Adham Masood’s free was hooked over the top by Kevin Murphy four minutes after the turnaround, and the winger whipped another dead ball across the face of goal moments later, but it was out of the reach of a swarm of inrushing players.
However, the better chances continued to come at the other end and in the 74th minute Hall had to be at his best to keep the Blue tide at bay.
He made a fine double save, first denying substitute Lee Costello and then Colm Whelan, and when Seán Roche eventually knocked the ball into the net the offside flag went up.
A minute later they were almost caught on the break, when Vincent Quinlan pumped a long ball forward to Danny Doyle, but although the striker turned well his shot lacked the power to trouble goalkeeper Paul Martin.
It was Hall to the rescue again for Wexford in injury time as he got the better of substitute Alex Phelan in a one-on-one situation, while seconds later Adham Masood sliced a difficult chance wide at the other end.
Waterford had one final chance to add to their tally deep into time added on, but Hall again came out on top in his battle with Phelan.
Wexford F.C.: Aaron Hall, Killian Griffin, Danny Bruce, Kevin Murphy, Craig O’Reilly, Cian Larkin (capt.), Vincent Quinlan, Adham Masood, Shane Cahill, Yaw Aboagye, Danny Doyle. Subs. - Ciarán Murphy for Cahill (HT), Liam Berry for Aboagye (70), Dylan Wall for Doyle (79)
Waterford F.C.: Paul Martin, Darragh Power, Cameron Power, Samuel Hickey, Darryl Walsh (capt.), Dean Beresford, Jack Larkin, Jack O’Donnell, Seán Roche, Colm Whelan, Mike Nzongong. Subs. - Niall O’Keefe for Beresford (65), Lee Costello for C. Power (75), Alex Phelan for Roche.
Referee: Brian Fenlon.