Match Report - London 1-6 - 0-11 Wexford

Wexford edged out London by two points to end the Exiles' winning start to the League campaign.

There was another bumper crowd in Ruislip as many made use of the great initiative by London GAA to offer free entry to their National League games.

The first score of the game came just before 10 minutes had been played. Both sides packed their defence and made it difficult for each other to take shots on.

Handling errors were prevalent but London, who have had to comeback in all their three matches so far, took the lead through two Liam Gavaghan frees.

The London-born captain dictated play through the middle and James Hynes, playing a withdrawn role with 14 on his back, was set up to score a curling effort from the sideline. Consultation from the linesman overruled the initial wide decision from the umpire.

The London defence swarmed every purple attack and forced Wexford to kick when the option was not on, Mark Rossiter and Kevin O'Grady victims of a well-organised system.

It was a Rossiter free that finally got Wexford's first score on the board after 27 minutes.

Both goalkeepers preferred to go long with their kick outs and it was a short one from Wexford number one Darragh Brooks that put London back two ahead. Gavaghan collected the misdirected pass and his poor shot was gathered by James Gallagher and he pointed.

Another free from Rossiter and then a point from play by Paraic Hughes meant Wexford went in one down at half time.

Wexford ended the half the better side and scored two more to go ahead for the first time. O'Grady scored inside the first minute of the second half before Niall Hughes split the posts.

The League has been plagued by poor weather conditions this year but McGovern Park was very sunny and allowed for more opportunities to kick pass.

It was through a kick pass that London got the goal. Wexford were split open and a three-on-two materialised for London. James Gallagher was forced wide by Brooks but the corner forward looped back and rifled into the net.

Captain John Turbitt led by example for the Leinster side as he kicked the next two points to draw Wexford level, the second again being given by the linesman as the same umpire adjudged the shot to go wide.

Gavaghan and Rossiter traded frees as neither team was able to pull away until the closing stages. Turbitt and substitute Tom Byrne in injury time put Wexford up by two to force London to get a goal to win it.

Chris Farley took a point for London when he could have lobbed the ball into the square. They needed to win the resulting kick out as time was running out but Wexford retained possession and Sean Ryan ran through to put the ball over the bar.

London are in second place behind Cavan but three wins from four is a record manager Michael Maher will be delighted with.