Danny Pender turns the Wexford Youths defence
The fourth and final South East Derby game of the season produced five goals and plenty of talking points for the biggest crowd of the season for a league game at the RSC on Friday night last.
Danny Furlong, the former Blues striker brought his total of goals for the current campaign to an incredible 24 goals and his brace in this game was good enough to stretch Wexford’s lead at the summit of the league table.
The result leaves Waterford rooted to the bottom but at times it was difficult to tell which team were chasing the title and which one was striving to get away from the basement. This was Wexford’s third victory over the Blues this season.
Despite putting in a great effort throughout the ninety minutes, Roddy Collins side were undone by a lucky break that denied the ten men from gaining a deserved point in as the Blues had to play the final 12 minutes without the services of captain Ethan Boyle, who was sent off on a second yellow card.
The visitors nearly got their noses in front after less than two minutes when Andy Mulligan picked up possession on the edge of the penalty area but his right-footed shot was just inches wide of Matthew Connor’s right-hand post.
Anthony McAlavey was just over the crossbar with a free kick from 25 yards on 21 minutes as the Blues began to get a foothold into the game but their early efforts were undone as the league leaders struck the front just two minutes later.
Former Waterford United player Peter Higgins split the Blues defence with a magnificent through ball that put Andy Mulligan into the clear on the left-side of the penalty area and he beat keeper Connor with a low left-footed shot to the far corner from 16 yards.
The Blues were back on level terms from the penalty spot on 33 minutes when Cory Galvin was brought to ground by the challenge of another former Waterford player Gary Delaney. Galvin drilled the resulting spot kick under the body of keeper Graham Doyle.
Wexford Youths got themselves back in the driving seat on 53 minutes when Blues defender Shaun Corcoran fouled Eric Molloy on the right side of the area and Danny Furlong curling left-footed free kick completely deceived goalkeeper Matthew Connor.
The lead lasted less than three minutes however as the home side levelled when Anthony McAlavey fired in a shot from 25 yards that was saved by keeper Graham Doyle into the path of Daniel Pender who finished neatly from deep inside the penalty area.
Blues captain Ethan Boyle was sent off by referee Simon Rogers on 78 minutes when the midfield player picked up his second yellow card in the space of four minutes following a challenge on Conor Whittle with the resulting Andy Mulligan free kick tipped over by Matthew Connor.
The visitors, with the advantage of the extra man, struck for the lead goal on 82 minutes when Peter Higgins fired in a right-footed shot that took a wicked deflection into the path of Danny Furlong, who swept a left-footed shot under the body of keeper Connor.
Although the Blues kept going they failed to land the equalising goal their overall performance perhaps deserved.
Waterford United: Matthew Connor, Dean Reidy,Shaun Corcoran, Column Nugent, Shane Mackey, Ethan Boyle, Cory Galvin, Evan Galvin, Daniel Pender, Anthony McAlavey,Aaron O’Connor
Wexford Youths: Graham Doyle,Craig McCabe, Ryan Delaney, Gary Delaney, Lee Grace, Peter Higgins (John Peare `88),Andy Mulligan, Craig Wall (Chris Kenny `62), DannyFurlong, Eric Molloy, Paul Cahillane (Conor Whittle `76)
Referee: Simon Rogers (Dublin)
