Cobh Ramblers suffer blow in battle for playoff places away to Wexford

Wexford 3 Cobh Ramblers 1 

Cobh Ramblers' five-game unbeaten run came to an end at Ferrycarrig Park.

This brings the club back down to earth after beating Cork City at the Munster FA Turner's Cross last week and going up to fourth in the table, with aspirations of slotting into second in the closing weeks of the season.

Fran Rockett's side haven't lost any ground, but they missed out an opportunity to create some breathing room in the battle to get into the play-offs after Longford Town and Kerry dropped points.

The Ramblers will aim to rebuild next week against Athlone Town at St Colman's Park. They will be without Cian Coleman after the defender was sent over a two yellow cards incurred in Wexford.

That compounded a miserable night for a side that saw former player Mikie Rowe score twice and Ryan Richie get one. Jordan Adeyemi did pull one back in injury time, when the game was long over.

The result has also energised Wexford for the run-in, as Stephen Elliott’s team are now five points away from Cobh with four games left to play.

The race for the play-offs is tight and congested, and everyone is capable of getting results in this league.

Rockett has been looking internally in recent weeks, focused totally on Cobh and making sure they finish as strongly as possible. The coach has used a specific formula in recent weeks and that 4-2-3-1 formation was deployed in Wexford with just one change to the group that defeated Cork City.

Shane Griffin replaced Adeyemi, and went into the formation that had Jonas Stjernberg as the lone striker.

What played out was a close game in the pouring rain, with the deadlock eventually broken by Rowe in the 42nd minute. That move involved Kaylem Hartnett and Jake Doyle creating space for Richie and Max Murphy on the right, and a cross by the defender was turned in for the opening goal.

The second half began with Coleman seeing red over a second yellow card and Wexford doubling their advantage on the hour mark. Richie scored that one with a weaving run into the box and a stunning strike that went beyond the reach of Timothy Martin.

The Ramblers were in a hole and Rockett reacted by bringing on Adeyemi for Dylan McGlade. Brian Lenihan also came on for his first senior appearance since an ankle injury sustained in a 2-0 victory over Treaty United at the beginning of August.

There was no comeback. Rowe managed to get his second of the game in the 67th minute.

Adeyemi pulled one back with just seconds left on the clock. It was too little too late, but if the play-off race is decided on goal difference, it could be crucial.

WEXFORD FC: Paul Martin; Rhys Bartley, Max Murphy, Kian Dignam, Robbie McCourt, James Wynne; Gideon Tetteh, Ryan Richie, Jake Doyle, Kaylem Hartnett, Mikie Rowe.

Subs: Gavin Hodgins for Rowe (78); Alex Mazur for Tetteh (79), Alex Norval for Wynne (88), Ryan Butler for McCourt (88), Zak O'Sullivan Doyle (90).

COBH: Timothy Martin; Callum Honohan, Cian Coleman, Ronan Mansfield, Luka Le Bervet; Oran Crowe, Dara McCormick; Shane Griffin, Rhys Gourdie, Dylan McGlade; Jonas Sternberg.

Subs: Brian Lenihan for Honohan (62); Jordan Adeyemi for McGlade (62), Brendeán Frahill for McCormick (63), Anthony Adenopo for Crowe (76), Alan Zborowski for Sternberg (76).

Referee: Robert Dowling