A battling Wexford performance came up just short against league leaders UCD on Friday night. The Slaneysiders were 2-0 behind against a rampant College side, but Aaron Dobbs's tenacity got them back into the game, as he won and then converted a pe
A battling Wexford performance came up just short against league leaders UCD on Friday night.
The Slaneysiders were 2-0 behind against a rampant College side, but Aaron Dobbs's tenacity got them back into the game, as he won and then converted a penalty.
They conceded a third goal, right on the stroke of half-time, but they continued to put it up to UCD, with Mark Slater's goal giving them a chance going down the home straight.
Manager Damien Locke tells our reporter Peter Branigan that his side showed great desire.
"UCD were fantastic in the first-half. They created an awful lot of problems for us. That goal right before half-time was a killer, and it proved to be the match winner. It's the way football goes sometimes.
"But the boys showed great character in the second-half, and they really made a game of it. Based on the second forty-five, we deserved something from the game.
"Overall though, the better team won."
The game was much more evenly matched after the break. At different stages Liam Scales, Dan Tobin, and Josh Collins got tackles in to prevent chances for the visitors to equalise. Locke says his players couldn't have given more.
"We couldn't dwell on the goal, it was done. We rectified one or two things, and we gave them far more to think about after the break.
"Of course, UCD had chances, and could have scored more, but I can't be disappointed with the players coming away with a performance like that against the best team in the league."
The result leaves Wexford fifteen points off the top of the table, and Locke says they have to be realistic about what they can achieve this season.
"We want to be in and around fourth place. Honestly, at the moment, it's probably getting away from us a little bit.
"If we start turning our performances into points, then we can still get that final play-off spot."
Dobbs, who looked dangerous throughout, had to come off with a half an hour to go. Had had been having a great battle with Collins, but Locke says the injury doesn't look good.
"It's one of those ones where you won't be able to tell how bad it is for a few days, but it's looking like an ankle ligament strain.
"It's an unfortunate one. I thought at the time, we were starting to really get a foothold in the game.
"He was leading the line for us, and I thought he was getting the better of Collins in the second-half."
Wexford will face south Dublin opposition again, as Cabinteely travel down the N11 for a Leinster Senior Cup fourth round tie. Pat Devlin's side will also provide Wexford's next league opposition on Friday night.
