Mervue seal points with two goals in a minute
Date Published: {J}
Mervue United 3
Wexford Youths 0
Mervue United bucked the recent worrying trend of losing in Galway soccer with a fine victory over Wexford Youths on Friday night in Fahy’s Field.
A goal from Noel Varley and a brace from Tom King ensured victory for the east side city team over a Wexford side languishing second from bottom of the table, 14 points beneath Mervue.
Wexford had looked in control for the first half but both sides had few opportunities to break the goal duct. Three corners in quick succession for the visitors placed the home side under pressure from the kick off.
It took Mervue 20 minutes to produce their first chance on goal with a Mark Ludden cross badly executed wide by Jason Molloy, while goalkeeper Ger Hanley kept Mervue in the match with a couple of excellent saves to finish the first half at nil all.
Two goals in the space of 60 seconds early in the second half saw Mervue take a stranglehold of the game as Varley’s powerful header at the back post from a Ludden corner smashed into the top corner to put the home side ahead in the 55th minute, and that lead was extended 60 seconds later as a Tom King run blitzed the Wexford defence who had failed to clear an Alan Gaffney ball, allowing King to fire past Wexford keeper Packie Holden.
Mervue increased their pressure on the visitors but failed to take advantage of their goal chances until the 74 minute when King tapped in his second from a palmed shot off Holden after a David Goldbey strike off the left side of the box.
The leaders nearly made it four when substitute Michael Collins headed a Mike Tierney cross just wide of the post while Ger Hanley kept a clean sheet at the death with a save from a Ben Ryan free kick. Mervue Utd: Hanley; Crehan (Collins 80), Casserely, Conneely, Ludden; Gaffney, Mountney, Varley (O’Brien 81), King; Goldbey (Tierney 84), Molloy.
Wexford Youths: Holden; Nolan, Kehoe, Keogh, Broaders; Ryan, Rowe (Kinsella 72), Yelverton, Mullen (McCurtin 62); Furlong, Walshe.Referee: Kevin O’Regan (Kerry).