The Slaneysiders have picked up four wins and a draw from their previous six games, with the only blip coming against league leaders Cork City, as they suffered a 2-1 defeat in Turner’s Cross last time out.
Impressively, this was also a fourth win on the trot in front of their home faithful, which should hopefully encourage more supporters to come through the turnstiles.
Wexford have now scored five goals without reply in their two outings against the Rams this season, following a 3-0 opening day victory – a decent haul against a side that were one of the favourites for promotion before a ball was kicked.
Mikie Rowe, who had a spell on loan with the Cork outfit at the back end of the 2023 season, came back to haunt his former side.
The Campile native’s early goal got the hosts on the front foot, while Gavin Hodgins gave them breathing space with their second with just over 12 minutes remaining.
Wexford threatened to take the lead in the third minute as Jake Doyle showed great strength to outmuscle the defence before poking a shot wide.
The home side didn’t have to wait long to hit the front, however, as they broke the deadlock in the ninth minute. Max Murphy whipped in an inviting delivery from the right wing which bounced kindly for Rowe to head in at the far post.
Cobh Ramblers enjoyed plenty of possession in the opening half, but they huffed and puffed without creating any clearcut chances, and a solid Wexford back four comfortably dealt with pretty much everything that was thrown at them.
The hosts knitted together some neat approach play in the 40th minute as Jake Doyle slid a cute pass through to Gavin Hodkins, whose attempt to square to Rowe was cut out.
Hodgins then warmed the gloves of Timo Martin from outside the area, but the home side would have been satisfied with their one-goal advantage as they headed to the dressing room at half-time.
Ryan Butler replaced Evan Osam for the start of the second-half, with Max Murphy moving to left-back, and the Under-17 World Cup star slotting in on the right.
A little more than a minute after the change of ends Mikie Rowe cut inside from the left and shot straight at the goalkeeper.
Moments later the winger’s cross was brought down well by Hodgins, although he blazed well off target and then Jake Doyle got his head on a Murphy corner but there were too many bodies in the way.
Wexford almost pounced for a second on the hour mark when Ryan Ritchie played a pass through to Hodgins, who beat the offside trap, but the ball was taken off his toe and the chance was lost.
The Model County side threatened again in the 70th minute when the ever-lively Jamie Wynne broke into the box from the right but was denied by the netminder.
They quickly had another sight of goal when Max Murphy’s deep free-kick was controlled by Doyle, who shifted the ball to his right and curled an effort wide of the far post.
Stephen Elliott’s side came close to putting the contest to bed in the 73rd minute when substitute Kaylem Harnett’s shot was saved after an effort from Hodgins was blocked.
Seconds later they did have the insurance goal when the ball fell to Hodgins on the edge of the area and he drilled a sweet low strike past Martin.
The visitors battled to try to find a way back into the contest, although they continued to struggle to break through a well marshalled defence. They did cause a few hearts to skip a beat in the 85th minute when a Rhys Kelly-Noonan cross was met by Rhys Gourdie, whose deflected effort landed in the grateful arms of Paul Martin.
Wexford defender Max Murphy then hared forward to intercept a pass just past the 90-minute mark. He slid the ball to Jake Doyle, who in turn fed Liam Shuntaro-Doyle, but the substitute’s shot was off target.
Jake Doyle was inches away from putting a further gloss on the scoreline when Kaylem Harnett caressed the ball into his path and his shot rattled the crossbar.
Wexford will be hoping to continue their impressive home run when they welcome Finn Harps to Ferrycarrig Park next Friday evening, while Cobh Ramblers make the short trip to Turner’s Cross for a derby clash against Cork City.
Wexford FC: Paul Martin; Max Murphy, Dylan Hand, Robbie McCourt, Evan Osam; Zayd Abada, Ryan Richie; Jamie Wynne, Gavin Hodgins, Mikie Rowe (capt.); Jake Doyle. Subs. – Ryan Butler for Osam (HT), Jack Larkin for Rowe (65), Kaylem Harnett for Ritchie (65), Liam Shuntaro Doyle for Hodgins (80), Kian Dignam for Abada (90+1), also Alex Moody, Dean Larkin, Mohammad Oladiti, Ryan Scanlon.
Cobh Ramblers: Timo Martin; Callum Honohan, Brendan Frahill, Shane Griffin (capt.), Lucas Curtin; Rhys Brennan, Oran Crowe, Jason Abbott; Rhys Gourdie; Wilson Waweru, Dylan McGlade. Subs. – Mikey Carroll for Abbott (69), Rhys Kelly-Noonan for McGlade (69), Anthony Adenopo for Brennan (81), also Rory Moloney, Brian Linehan, Cian Coleman, Kai O’Neill, Claudio Osorio, Luka La Bervet.
Referee: Ryan Maher.