VAUGHAN WONDER SHOW BURIES WEXFORD
 
A magical display by Trevor Vaughan was the highlight of a five-star performance from Dundalk on Friday evening, as the depleted Lilywhites hammered Wexford Youths 5-0 to return to the top of the eircom League of Ireland First Division table. The striker netted a memorable hat-trick to silence his critics, while Jamie Duffy and Paul Smyth added themselves to the score-sheet as John Gill’s men responded to recent results in style.
 
Vaughan sent a bullet header to the net just past the half-hour following a David Crawley free-kick, before Duffy added a superb second seven minutes later as he volleyed home from a Shane Grimes cross. Vaughan then added another moments later as he curled the ball to the top corner, before he completed a superlative hat-trick after the break with a near 45-yard lob. Smyth rounded off the scoring late on with a clinical finish following a flowing move from the visitors, who could have had even more only for ‘keeper, Jason Russell.
 
The Oriel Park outfit made the long journey south with just 15 players available. Midfielder Paul Shiels was serving a one-match ban, while captain Aidan Lynch, right-back John Flanagan, midfielder Paul Crowley and goalkeeper Aaron Shanahan all joined him on the sidelines. Shanahan, despite being unable to partake, took his place on the bench to make up the squad of 16, while Jamie Duffy was forced to play despite having the flu. Robbie Farrell, meanwhile, was unable to start due to injury.
 
In a much changed line-up - which showed four personnel changes from the draw with Longford three days earlier - Paul Marney played at right-back, David Crawley at centre-half and Ian Ryan in central midfield. Robbie Martin - who returned to the starting XI for the first time in five weeks following injury - also took up a position in the centre of the park during the second-half, while Marney switched to centre-half late on. Wexford, meanwhile, had three of the Youth Cup winning side in their team, including star striker Danny four-goal Furlong.
 
Dundalk, as they have done in their last three games, started brightly. However, this time, they made their dominance in the possession stakes count. From the outset, they held the ball well, though it was Wexford who had the first shot on goal as Marty Kelly’s long range effort flew past Chris Bennion’s top left-hand corner. The visitors continued to attack, however, it wasn’t until after the half-hour that they took a deserved lead, as Vaughan made and finished the move. After forcing the foul, the 34-year-old moved into position in the area, and rose highest to send a bullet header past Russell following a Crawley set-piece.
 
Three minutes later, Vaughan should have doubled his tally, however, after linking up well with Martin, he dragged his shot wide of the target from 18-yards. Dundalk soon made it two, though, with Trevez once again involved. Grimes’ cross from the left wing was flicked on by the striker to Duffy, who took the ball down on his chest before turning and volleying superbly over the ‘keeper. If that was good, the Lilywhites’ third just 90 seconds later was even better. After gathering Martin’s pass, Vaughan held off the attention of two defenders, before turning and unleashing an unstoppable curling shot to the far top corner.
 
That strike as good as wrapped up the points, as Dundalk took a healthy 3-0 advantage into the break, and, not that any reassurance was needed, the result was put further beyond doubt just eight minutes into the second-half. Shortly after Martin’s stinging left-footed shot was brilliantly turned around the post by Russell, Vaughan, standing near the halfway line, took one look up and sent a near 45-yard lob over the despairing dive of the backtracking netminder. The hitman is no stranger to magical finishes, however, out of his 32 club goals to date, this was the pick of the lot.
 
With the game over, defender Ben Whelehan, who earlier sustained a nasty knock in a clash of heads with Furlong, was withdrawn in place of Tiarnán Mulvenna, with Ryan dropping back to defence and Martin going into central midfield. And, it was Mulvenna who almost created Dundalk’s fifth on 70 minutes. The youngster’s pass sent Duffy through on goal, however, the winger was denied by the feet of Russell. The Lilywhites did find the net again soon after, though, following a flowing passage of play. David Cassidy’s perfect pass allowed Duffy to get in behind the Wexford defence, and his cross was laid on a plate for Smyth, who clinically dispatched to the net with a powerful header.
 
Dundalk could have added even more in the final ten minutes, with the best chance falling to Martin. However, after breaking through the backline, the 25-year-old fired wide of Russell’s left-hand post. That proved to be the visitors’ last clear opening as they comfortably played out the game to go clear at the summit once more. However, that lead was short lived, as Shelbourne returned to the top with a 1-0 win in Athlone on Sunday afternoon, meaning that next weekend’s fixtures - Dundalk -v- Sporting Fingal and Shelbourne -v- Wexford Youths - are set to decide who leads the way going into the June break.
 
dundalkfc.com Man of the Match: TREVOR VAUGHAN (Dundalk)…Simply MAGIC! Trevor has never been short of his critics, however, here, he sent the two fingers to those clueless beings who doubt his class. A sensational hat-trick was the highlight of an all-round wonderful solo performance. His first was quality, his second genius, and his third absolute world class. To add to an unforgettable night for the striker, his second of the evening was league goal number 100 of a sparkling career - a fitting achievement for a class act. His end prize was the match ball - the second time he has collected it in his career, after hitting his only ever previous hat-trick in his first spell at Dundalk in Athlone during the 2004 season. At this rate, Trevor won’t ever be retiring, and nor do we want him to. “Opinions are like arseholes - everybody has one,” Trevor commented during last season in response to his critics. Quite right Sir!
 
MATCH STATS
Goals: 0-5
Shots: 6-14
Shots ON Target: 3-9
Shots OFF Target: 3-5
Corners: 4-4
Fouls Committed: 7-8
Offsides: 3-1
Yellow Cards: 1-3
Red Cards: 0-0
 
Wexford Youths: Jason Russell; Stuart Lawlor, Anthony Russell, Paul Rossiter (Conor Wallace 84), Garrett Larkin (Kyle Dempsey 74), Shane Dempsey, Keith Kearney, Marty Kelly (Ricky Fox 63), Patsy Malone, Danny Furlong, Gavin Doyle.
 
Dundalk FC (4-4-2): Chris Bennion; Paul Marney, Ben Whelehan (Tiarnán Mulvenna 57), David Crawley, Shane Grimes; Jamie Duffy, David Cassidy, Ian Ryan (Stefan McKevitt 78), Davie O’Connor (Paul Smyth HT); Trevor Vaughan, Robbie Martin.
Goals: T Vaughan (34, 44, 53), J Duffy (41), P Smyth (79).
Booked: T Vaughan (43), C Bennion (45), D Crawley (56).
Subs Not Used: Aaron Shanahan (GK), Robbie Farrell.
 
Referee: Ed McNally (Cork).
Attendance: 680.