ERIC BRADLEY orchestrated this game from midfield as Wexford put together back-to-back victories with a comprehensive seven-point defeat of Sligo in this Allianz Football League Division 3 game played at Wexford Park on Sunday last.

Bradley was having his first full league game after a period out through injury, and what a difference the Adamstown clubman made to the Wexford side. Along with the ever-improving Daithí Waters, they gave Wexford the type of midfield dominance which they had not enjoyed for some considerable time as they stormed all over the westerners in a more emphatic victory than even the seven-point margin suggests.

Such was Wexford's second-half dominance, Sligo could only manage one score during that period - an Alan Costello goal on 70 minutes.

While the visitors did kick some dreadful wides both from play and placed balls, Wexford also had their quota of misses, while they had to play out the closing 15 minutes with 14 players after Ben Brosnan was sent-off on a straight red card following a challenge on a Sligo defender.

Wexford were fresh and inventive, and made their first statement of intent as early as the third minute. After a Mark Breheny pointed free had Sligo in front for the only time, Wexford struck back immediately.

Having mounted a quick attack down the stand side, Adrian Flynn worked himself in on goal but his low shot was foot-blocked by wing-back Neil Ewing, who was yellow carded. Corner-forward Ciarán Lyng neatly tucked the resulting penalty into the bottom left-hand corner of the net past a helpless 'keeper, Philip Greene.

With Shane Roche kicking two excellent points from play, the home side edged into a 1-2 to 0-1 lead after 13 minutes. While Sligo responded with three points in succession through David Kelly with two, one free, and a Mark Breheny free, Bradley provided the inspiration as he stormed through the defence for an excellent point.

A David Kelly pointed free provided the next score, but Wexford were taking the game to Sligo. Bradley was brought down as he once again moved through the defence, leaving Shane Roche to point the resulting free.

While Mark Breheny closed off the half with a pointed free, Wexford led by 1-4 to 0-6 at the interval.

Having soaked up early pressure, Wexford responded with a Ben Brosnan pointed free in the 40th minute. Twelve minutes into the half, Johnny Davey's shot for goal was deflected for a fruitless '45 by Anthony Masterson.

Ciarán Lyng increased the home side's lead with a 52nd-minute pointed free, while one minute later he set up Ben Brosnan with a delightful weighted pass into space, with the Bannow-Ballymitty man applying a superb finish to give his side a 2-6 to 0-6 lead.

Brosnan turned from hero to villian in the 55th minute with his red card offence, but Wexford were never going to allow the initiative to slip and their third goal arrived ten minutes from the end.

Adrian Flynn, having won possession out on the terrace side, swung a high ball across goal, with tall midfielder Daithí Waters rising above the 'keeper and several defenders to punch downwards to the net, giving his side a nine-point advantage (3-6 to 0-6).

The game petered out following this, with Sligo hitting back for their solitary second-half score at the death. Wing-forward Alan Costello powered a shot towards goal which Masterson had covered, but the ball took a wicked deflection off the outstretched hand of Daithí Waters and finished in the corner of the net.

- BRENDAN FURLONG In Wexford Park