Cobh Ramblers leave two points behind them as Wexford come back from 3-1 down to claim a share of the spoils

Wexford FC 3

Cobh Ramblers 3

PLAY-OFF bound Cobh Ramblers continued their preparations for a promotion push by drawing 3-3 with Wexford FC at Ferrycarrig Park on Sunday afternoon.

Both sides will meet again on Tuesday October 24th in Wexford for the first leg and the second leg will take place in St Colman's Park on Saturday October 28th. 

After goals from Mikie Rowe and Jack Doherty gave Shane Keegan’s side the lead, any pre-match script was torn up after Thomas Oluwa slotted in a penalty.

A neat finish from Wilson Waweru put the Ramblers up 3-1 in front midway through the second half and Wexford came back with Conor Levingston scoring a brace.

Even though the Ramblers have a play-off spot secured, this was all about not giving something away and Keegan’s players achieved that after 90 minutes of shadow boxing in the south-east.

The coach left nothing to chance and it showed with how he picked his team as just three changes were made to the group that beat Longford Town 2-0 at St Colman’s Park last time out.

The engine remained intact, and that included Doherty as the creator and Waweru positioned as the focal point of the attack.

The biggest change to the two teams was the return of Brendeán Frahill, a player cited by most as a rock in the Cobh defence.

The defensive foundation worked out by helping Cobh take a 2-0 lead inside 19 minutes.

Rowe opened the scoring and Doherty doubled the advantage by converting a penalty. Wexford tried to quickly respond and that led to Oluwa putting a Reece Webb cross straight into Lee Steacy’s hands.

As soon as Cobh took the sting out of the game, Wexford hit back with an Oluwa penalty in the 39th minute.

The home side then changed up their team by bringing on Danny Furlong and Aaron Dobbs, two players with years of experience at the highest level over their time at Cork City and Shamrock Rovers.

Waweru unleashed a shot that goalkeeper Noel Heffernan had no chance of saving, and that made it 3-1 to Cobh in the 54th minute.

The sublime finish should have been the moment that killed off any attempt at a Wexford comeback. Instead, it emboldened a group that would get back in the game through two late goals from Conor Levingston.

His arrival didn’t alter the flow, the home side were already creating chances like a Furlong shot that Stacey had to get a hand to.

Conor Levingston’s first hit the back of the net from close range and suddenly – what seemed like an assured result – was up in the air as the home side pushed for an equaliser.

His brother, Darragh, created the second in the 75th minute and that completed the comeback. Neither side was able to get the winner, and it means Cobh will look to get their final win of the regular season on Friday night against Kerry FC at St Colman’s Park.

Wexford FC: Noel Heffernan; Hugh Douglas, Brandon McCann, Mark Hanratty, Luka Lovic, Corban Piper, Killian Corbally, Reece Webb, Cian O’Malley, Maximilian Kelly, Thomas Oluwa.

Subs: Danny Furlong for Corbally (45); Aaron Dobbs for Webb (45), Darragh Levingston for Douglas (76), Benjamin Lynch for Kelly (77), Conor Levingston for Oluwa (77).

Cobh Ramblers: Lee Steacy; Cian Browne, Brendeán Frahill, Charlie Lyons, Wilson Waweru, Pierce Philips, Jack Doherty, Mikie Rowe, Dean Larkin, James O’Leary, Jason Abbott.

Subs: Liam Kervick for Doherty (75); Luke Desmond for Rowe (75), Matthew McKevitt for Waweru (76).

Referee: Daniel Murphy