Wexford Youths 1 - 4 Monaghan United

As the season enters its final stages, Monaghan United FC earned valuable points against Wexford Youths with a 4-1 victory as they continue to astound their faithful fans and close the gap further on Derry City. United travelled to Ferrycarrig Park favourites to win their tie against Wexford Youths but nobody expected them to do it in such style.

A first half penalty tucked away by Karl Bermingham in the 31st minute set the tone in what had been a fairly even affair up to this point. The penalty had come about as a result of a hand ball in the box. United had struggled to contain Youths and in particular Gary Sheehan in the opening 15 minutes but when they settled in United were comfortable for the most of the game.

The second half was were United showed why they are near the top end of the table as they managed to make inroads into the Wexford defence and were passing the ball around at their leisure. The pressure United put on the Youths paid off when during a goal mouth scramble from a Mons corner, defender Aidan Collins got down low and headed the ball past Patrick Holden in the Wexford nets to make it 0-2.

Minutes later Holden was given his marching orders for taking United striker Philly Hughes down in the box and the resultant penalty was converted once more by Karl Bermingham to put the Mons comfortably three goals clear.

With the game in the bag, United didn’t rest on their laurels and continued to push forward with all players on the pitch bar Sava in goals, moving deep into the Youths half and within ten minutes of Bermingham’s second, substitute and local hero Paul Whelan made it 4-0.

Whelan’s goal was a contender for goal of the season when he sent the ball in high and just over the sub goalkeeper Robert Dempsey’s fingers into the back of the net. Some foolishness from Monaghan United’s Karl Bermingham and Anthony Wolfe resulted in both being shown red cards in the 79th minute.

Youths came back at United and were rewarded with a consolation goal through the ever threatening Gary Sheehan in the 82nd minute. Alas the mountain was too high to climb for Wexford and although they did give United a great challenge in the last ten minutes of the game, Mons were far enough ahead to hold onto all three points.

Monaghan United have the chance to go to the top of the table on Monday if they do what Derry failed to do tonight and beat Athlone Town. Kick off in Gortakeegan is 8pm.