Curtis hits last-gasp winner

Wexford squander two-goal lead before a flying finish

WEXFORD FC’S first home success of the season in miserable conditions on Friday was rendered all the more enjoyable by the fact that, in effect, they had to win this game not once, but twice!

It certainly felt that way as, after briefly looking comfortable with a 2-0 lead over Treaty United, the hosts were rocked by a Yoyo Mahdy brace from a sublime free-kick and a header that ensured parity with seven minutes left.

However, there was another twist in store as, just when it looked like Wexford FC were about to squander two points rather than gaining one, youthful substitute Cian Curtis chose the perfect time to score a first senior goal for his new club.

It came in the 89th minute, with captain Ethan Boyle launching a throw into the box from the right that was helped on by the excellent Aaron Dobbs before the teenager turned it in at the near post.

It was a poor goal for Treaty to give away, especially when they would have been entitled to celebrate a draw as if it was a win, considering what had gone before.

And while their start to the season has been strong, and they remain just ahead of Wexford on goal difference, the long bus trip home to Limerick in the awful weather must have been filled with regrets.

The Ferrycarrig Park faithful who braved the elements in the hope that their team would build on the encouraging 1-1 draw with leaders Cork City on the previous Monday were well rewarded – both in terms of the general entertainment and, of course, the outcome.

When news of a pitch inspection was announced earlier in the day, many would have feared the worst considering the two previous postponements of the Longford Town and Cobh Ramblers games.

However, this time around the ground was given the all-clear shortly after 2 p.m., and Treaty were soon on the road to play their part in a lively encounter that produced plenty of goalmouth action despite the wind and rain.

Luka Lovic and Thomas Oluwa came into the starting eleven instead of Brandon McCann and Darragh Levingston respectively, and Wexford created three decent chances in an opening half that finished scoreless.

The first arrived in the 18th minute, with a throw by Cian O’Malley on the left resulting in Mark Hanratty cutting in from the flank and shooting over.

Then, on 26 minutes, Mikie Rowe delivered the first of his team’s four corners before the break, with the ball eventually arriving back at his feet as Treaty struggled to clear their lines.

His low shot presented netminder Michael Dike with a real test, but the shot-stopper got down low to make a fine save.

Rival goalkeeper Owen Mason wasn’t troubled by a Yoyo Mahdy effort that lacked power after a Lee Devitt cross in the 33rd minute, and the interval was fast approaching when we were treated to a Wexford attack that had home fans on their feet.

Mark Hanratty had done well to hack the ball away for a Treaty corner from close to his own goalline after a Fionn Doherty delivery, and the home team dealt well with the set-piece that was taken by former Wexford player Thomas Considine.

When Kian Corbally added to it and Kaylem Harnett got on the ball at midfield, Treaty were under-staffed at the back and the teenage international didn’t need a second invitation to take them on.

After kicking it past the last defender on one side and racing by him on the other, the 16-yearold was now bearing down on netminder Dike with perhaps too much time to dwell on what would come next.

It would have been a truly special way to score a first senior goal, but Dike stayed big and got a strong hand to Harnett’s rising shot, much to the disappointment of the young Wexford fans who were chanting that the talented teen was “one of our own” ever since the pre-match warm-ups.

While that well-contested half ended scoreless, we only had to wait until the third minute on the restart for Wexford to take the lead.

A long throw from the left by Cian O’Malley was sent into the path of Ethan Boyle off a Treaty boot, and the captain’s volley nestled in the clubhouse end net after appearing to take a very slight deflection off Mikie Rowe en route.

Wexford were intent on pressing home their new-found advantage, and Thomas Oluwa couldn’t get his header on target from a Mark Hanratty cross before a decent effort from a Kian Corbally free-kick ended in the side-netting.

Number two did arrive in the 79th minute, with Aaron Dobbs threading a sublime through ball in to substitute Darragh Levingston, who was very unselfish in what he did next.

He would have been entitled to have a go himself, but instead he squared it for the more centrally-placed Corbally who gleefully grabbed his second goal of the season.

At 2-0, Wexford should have been able to close out the game with a relative degree of comfort, but they weren’t prepared for what happened next.

Two and a half minutes later, Yoyo Mahdy sized up a free-kick in front of goal 35 metres out, and his technique was top-notch as he guided it sweetly into the left corner of Owen Mason’s net.

Treaty now had something to chase, and there was a stunned silence among the home following when they equalised a mere two minutes later.

A dangerous whipped ball went across the face of goal from left to right before it was retrieved, with the Treaty cross met with a firm Mahdy header well out of Mason’s reach.

Rather than allowing their heads to drop, Wexford went looking for the winner, and they were duly rewarded in the 89th minute.

Aaron Dobbs may be regarded primarily as a goalscorer, but his graft up top on horrible nights like Friday always has to be admired.

It was no surprise, then, to see him adding to Boyle’s throw before Cian Curtis nicked it home at the near post, crowning a very positive and productive week for a Wexford FC side now unbeaten in four league games (two wins book-ending two draws).

Their next assignment is away to Cobh Ramblers this Friday in the re-developed St. Colman’s Park at 7.45 p.m.

Ferrycarrig Park will host two matches next week, with the Longford Town re-fixture on Tuesday followed by the visit of UCD for the first time in this campaign on Friday, April 19.

Wexford FC: Owen Mason; Reece Webb, Ethan Boyle (capt.), Cian O’Malley, Mark Hanratty; Luka Lovic; Kian Corbally, Mikie Rowe; Kaylem Harnett, Aaron Dobbs, Thomas Oluwa. Subs. – Darragh Levingston for Harnett (61), Cian Curtis for Oluwa (70), Brandon McCann for Rowe (78), also Alex Moody, Ben Lynch, James Crawford, Carl Lennox, Robbie O’Toole.

Treaty United: Michael Dike; Robbie Lynch, Evan O’Connor, Ben O’Riordan, Oisín O’Reilly; Scott Kirkland, Mark Walsh (capt.); Thomas Considine, Lee Devitt, Fionn Doherty; Yoyo Mahdy. Subs. – Mark Byrne for Considine (71), Stephen Christopher for Kirkland (71), Willie Armshaw for Doherty (71), Alec Byrne for Lynch (79), also Corey Chambers, Conor Carew, Leon Kirrane, Mark Murphy, Seán Costelloe.

Referee: Jason Moore (Kilkenny).