Goals from Clive Rothwell and Roy Chapman proved the difference in a closely-fought derby match as Enniscorthy’s second eleven beat Wicklow’s 3rd XI on Wednesday night in Leinster Division 7.

For the Astro Active Centre-based side a win was vital to maintain promotion momentum as third-placed Portrane were poised to take advantage of any dropped points. 

It was the visiting side, though, who exerted the early opening pressure, earning a penalty corner with twenty minutes on the clock and some tactical changes were required. Jason Rothwell, Roy Chapman, Daithí Medcalf and Shay O’Leary were all introduced to stem an increasingly dominant Wicklow tide.

Clive Rothwell (foreground) opened the scoring for Enniscorthy on Wednesday night

Within five minutes of their introductions, the changes had their desired result, with the hosts earning their first penalty corner and Rothwell, receiving the ball on the switch, duly converted. 

Encouraged by their half time lead, O’Leary forced a save from the Wicklow ‘keeper three minutes into the second half but drilled the second half wide. Ken Davis had a chance for Wicklow to take advantage of a muddle at the back by the Enniscorthy defence, and on 48 minutes Luke Doyle in the Enniscorthy goal was forced into a save, leading to an Enniscorthy counter-attack which was stopped by the Wicklow goakeeper’s boot. 

With seven minutes left on the clock came Wicklow’s most sustained period of pressure, earning a penalty corner which was blocked by Niall Byrne resulting in a second penalty corner for the visitors. This time the delivery went wide.

Jason Rothwell’s trademark cross set up Roy Chapman’s winner

Two minutes later came the winner. A trademark cross from the right by Bunclody’s Jason Rothwell rebounded back to Roy Chapman, and he made no mistake.

Wicklow kept fighting despite the two-goal deficit, and earned a further penalty corner soon after Chapman’s strike. Doyle had to be at his best to keep out the well-hit drag flick and secure his eighth clean sheet of the league.

With news later filtering through that Portrane had been held to a 2-2 draw away to Naas, Enniscorthy’s promotion hopes now rest on securing all three points at home to St James’ Gate II in their last match of the season on Sunday. 

Squad: Luke Doyle, David Mulligan, Clive Rothwell, Billy James, Mick Jordan, Alan Smith, Niall Maguire, Robbie Walshe, Eamonn Sweeney, Shay O’Leary, Graeme Chapman, Jack Doran, Aodháin O’Leary, Jason Rothwell, Daithí Medcalf, Roy Chapman.