Senior Soccer

Wexford C.B.S. ...3   Bridgetown V.S. ...2

On Thursday 8^th of November the senior soccer team managed to hold off a strong Bridgetown challenge in Wexford Celtics grounds. Wexford CBS began the game brightly and enjoyed the lion’s share of possession but were finding it difficult to create an opening against a well organised Bridgetown defence. Conor Clancy, Danny Fitz and Mark Doyle all came close to opening the scoring in the opening twenty minutes but none managed to hit the target when presented with an opportunity. Bridgetown began to find their way into the game and almost took the lead, CBS didn’t deal with a free kick crossed into the box and the ball found its way to a Bridgetown player at the edge of the box who struck the cross bar from the edge of the box. Bridgetown were now enjoying the better of the game and soon took the lead after a corner was not completely cleared by the Bokerboys and the ball landed at the edge of the box and Bridgetown’s no.10 struck a well-placed volley which found the net. This goal seemed to galvanise the home side however as the CBS came back strong and put Bridgetown under severe pressure. Danny Fitz was played in but was taken down by the keeper outside the box as he was in one on one, the keeper received a yellow and Dale Scallan came close with the resulting free kick.

The Bokerboys upped the pressure in search of an equaliser and Richie Kearney, Dale Scallan, Jessie Farrell and Danny Fitz all came close to equalising before John Bridges managed to finally to force one over the line directly from a corner kick. The second half began as the first ended with the CBS on top and looking to get the lead, Danny Fitz waltzed through the Bridgetown defence before mixing up his angles and hitting narrowly wide inside the penalty spot. Jessie Farrell and Mark Doyle were also played into good positions but were unable to hit the net. CBS soon took the lead however as Danny Fitz again ran at the Bridgetown defence before playing in John Bridges who finished neatly to give Wexford a 2-1 lead. Wexford were dominating the game at this point with Dylan Walsh running the show but may regret the fact that they were unable to double their advantage as they were wasteful with the chances they created. Dale Scallan came forward from centre back and came close again with a shot from distance. Bridgetown played a long ball forward from defence and Evan Dunbar seemed to have coped well as he cleared the ball against a Bridgetown player and over the side-line but somehow the referee decided to award the throw to the away side. From the resulting throw in Bridgetown managed to attack down the wing and square a good cross from which they found an equaliser from no. 10 again, 2-2. The goal gave the away side renewed hope and they really came back into the game, the match now was end to end as both sides went all out attack in search of a winner. Substitute Cian Doyle made a great run and was taken down by the Bridgetown keeper inside the area with less than ten to go, up stepped captain Dale Scallan who netted to put the Bokerboys 3-2 ahead. Bridgetown rallied and came back at them and struck the bar with minutes remaining. The referee blew the whistle with Dylan Walsh on the counter attack close to the away sides goal. In a three team group it is now a nervous wait for the CBS as they await the result between Enniscorthy and Bridgetown to confirm who will progress from the group.  A good victory for the CBS, as they were pushed all the way in a tight contest by a resolute Bridgetown side. Best on the day for the Bokerboys were Danny Fitzpatrick, John Bridges, Dale Scallan and Dylan Walsh.

Wexford CBS: Shane McGrath (Wexford Albion), Jason Kearns (North End), Dale Scallan (Wexford Youths), Evan Dunbar (North End), Richie Kearney (North End), Dylan Walsh (North End), Conor Clancy (Rosslare Strand), John Bridges (Wexford Celtic), Mark Doyle (Wexford Celtic), Jessie Farrell (North End), Danny Fitzpatrick (Wexford Youths),

Subs; John Hamilton (Forth Celtic) for Kearns, Cian Doyle (Wexford Celtic) for Bridges, John Forde (Curracloe Utd.) for Farrell, also Eoghan Whitty (Forth Celtic), Darragh Rossiter (Forth Celtic), Jamie MacDonnell (Wexford Celtic)