Hans Mpongo doubled his Cork City goal-scoring tally with a brace to maintain the Turner’s Cross side\u2019s unbeaten First Division start in front of 2,601 fans.<\/p>\n
The Leesiders punished a pair of defensive mistakes to move eight points clear of UCD with a game in hand.<\/p>\n
Stephen Elliott\u2019s Wexford slip to third. They haven\u2019t registered a win over City in 25 attempts dating back to 2010 (7 draws, 18 defeats).<\/p>\n
Given that a switch to 4-4-2 resulted in a four-goal turnaround against Kerry last time out, Barry Robson retained that structure here.<\/p>\n
That saw Ruair\u00ed Keating miss out, with Mpongo starting up front alongside Seani Maguire.<\/p>\n
That duo demonstrated their compatibility within three minutes by combining for the opening goal. Greg Bolger volleyed the ball forward and Maguire capitalised on a Robert McCourt mistake. His perfect pass split the defenders for Mpongo to race through and finish his third goal of the season.<\/p>\n
They weren\u2019t quite on the same wavelength minutes later. Maguire\u2019s pass-cum-shot looked destined for either the bottom corner or an Mpongo tap-in. The Dutch frontman\u2019s touch was too heavy as he effectively blocked the ball from crossing the line.City took their foot off the accelerator as the game fell into a lull.<\/p>\n
That allowed Wexford to produce their first shot in the 28th minute \u2013 a routine Gavin Hodgins effort at Conor Brann. There was nothing routine five minutes later as they grabbed the leveller.City had multiple opportunities to clear before and after Evan Osam\u2019s cross.<\/p>\n
Mikie Rowe won the initial header and Jake Doyle made a nuisance of himself before left-back Conor Drinan only succeeded in poking the ball for Jamie Wynne to slide into the corner.<\/p>\n
The former City winger celebrated his first league goal in front of the Shed End.Robson had seen enough of the new formation as he reverted back to his stock 3-4-1-2 shape. Cillian Murphy slotted in behind the front pair.<\/p>\n
He had one opportunity blocked by Dylan Hand before whizzing a long-range strike just over the bar.Into the second half, Wexford\u2019s high-energy 4-1-4-1 formation soaked up City pressure.<\/p>\n
A Brann slice almost gave Ryan Ritchie an open goal to aim for until Rory Feely poked the ball away with his final act.As Maguire forced Paul Martin into a low save, Robson returned to a back-four in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Keating up top.<\/p>\n
They had their reward against the tiring visitors on 69 minutes. Mpongo, now on the left wing, and Maguire, playing as a number 10, linked up.<\/p>\n
The ex-Ireland international\u2019s ball over the top was miskicked by Dylan Hand and fell for Keating. In the end, the onrushing Mpongo took it off his foot to roll a shot into the far corner.<\/p>\n
The hat-trick chaser hit the post late on before being called back for offside.Into the five added minutes, Jack Larkin got the only chance for a leveller, lofting an acrobatic effort over the bar.<\/p>\n
At the other end, Maguire had a late goal called back for offside after Martin hit the deck.<\/p>\n
Cork City: Conor Brann; Rory Feely (Ruair\u00ed Keating 66), Fiacre Kelleher, Charlie Lyons, Conor Drinan (AJ Bridge 88); Cillian Murphy, Darragh Crowley, Greg Bolger, Josh Fitzpatrick (Harry Nevin 66); Seani Maguire, Hans Mpongo (Matthew Kiernan 86).<\/p>\n
Wexford FC: Paul Martin; Max Murphy, Dylan Hand (Kaylem Harnett 70), Robert McCourt, Evan Osam; Zayd Abada; Mikie Rowe (Liam Shuntaro Doyle 70), Gavin Hodgins (Ryan Ritchie 62), Adam Verdon, Jamie Wynne (Jack Larkin 81); Jake Doyle.Referee: Alan Patchell (Dublin).<\/p>\n
Louis Dignam’s late goal gave UCD a 2-1 victory at home to Finn Harps as the Students jumped to second in the table.<\/p>\n
Niall Holohan’s goal shortly before the half hour mark gave the Belfield side a 1-0 interval lead. Harps, who are currently languishing in eighth spot, equalised with 20 minutes remaining through Bernardo Monteiro.<\/p>\n
The game appeared to be heading for a draw until deep in injury-time when Dignam’s long range shot took a deflection and flew into the top corner.<\/p>\n
Louis Dignam with an injury time winner for The Students!\ud83d\udd35 pic.twitter.com\/3D3XYmlprs<\/a><\/p>\n