Cobh Ramblers end five-game losing streak at home against Wexford

Cobh Ramblers 1 Wexford 0 

Cobh Ramblers manager Fran Rockett praised his side’s 'mental resolve' after they snapped their five-match losing run with a narrow victory over Wexford at St Colman’s Park on Friday night.

The coach oversaw a near-perfect performance under the lights, and their reward was a solitary goal from a Jordan Adeyemi cross turned in by Robbie McCourt into his own net.

The Ramblers looked assured of themselves as Wexford search for an equaliser, a quest that repeatedly came up short. Kaylem Hartnett created their best opportunity and that was cleared off the line in the 74th minute at the Liam McMahon Stand.

Rockett was full of praise for his players getting the result and moving up to fifth in the table.

“I thought we were excellent – I said to the boys in both halves we saw different sides of ourselves,” he said.

“In the first half we controlled the game, from minute one to the 45th minute. I thought we created openings and we deserved to go in on top.

“To show that mental resolve after the last few weeks we had, and to see out the game. It was outstanding. If we had played the same way in the first half as we did in the second half, I don’t think I’d know as much about the players.

“The way it worked out, we had the ball in the first half and we had to sit in for large parts of the second half. We had to sit in and we were down to eight players with 11 players on the pitch over players carrying knocks. They worked and showed everything, with and without the ball. It was a fantastic performance.” 

Cobh always held Wexford at arm’s length, while they created a number of chances at the other end.

This started with Luka Le Bervet hitting the side netting, and continued with Shane Griffin curling a free-kick wide at the back post.

Cobh eventually took the lead, a moment born from a stunning piece of skill by Adeyemi on the right. The winger twisted free and put a low ball into the box that was scrambled over the line by McCourt.

Wexford did command possession after the break as they pushed for an equaliser. Cobh resisted, with their bench the difference late in the game.

Rockett brought on Mikey Carroll, Callum Honohan, Kai O’Neill, and Rhys Kelly Noonan in a bid to inject fresh legs into the game.

Each one ran to cover space, while covering gaps as the team switched from a 4-3-3 formation to a 3-5-2 with 10 minutes left to play.

The Ramblers could have killed the game in the 90th minute, but a breakaway strike from Adeyemi was well stopped by Paul Martin.

The resulting corner was kept in the corner by Dylan McGlade and Kelly Noonan, just to make sure of the three points.

COBH: Timothy Martin; Brian Lenihan, Breandán Frahill, Luka Le Bervet, Lucas Curtin; Rhys Gourdie, Shane Griffin; Jordan Adeyemi, Dylan McGlade, Anthony Adenopo, Jonas Stjernberg.

Subs: Mikey Carroll for Griffin (64); Callum Honohan for Frahill (73), Kai O’Neill for Adenopo (73), Rhys Kelly Noonan for Stjernberg (79).

WEXFORD: Paul Martin; Ryan Butler, Kian Dignam, Robbie McCourt, Max Murphy; Kaylem Hartnett, Adam Verdon; Jamie Wynne, Jake Doyle, Mikie Rowe; Zak O’Sullivan.

Subs: Dylan Hand for Dignam (HT); Gideon Tetteh for Murphy (61), Ryan Richie for Wynne (61), Gavin Hodgins for Verdon (76).

Referee: Mark Houlihan