WYW v UCD Waves

[ForzaForth]

Even at this early stage, it looks as if the WNL is going to be decided by the results in a number of key games, of which this was always going to be one on a soft Ferrycarrig pitch tonight. WYW began with Tamara, Nicola, Ruth, Ciara, Edel, Linda, Emma, Kylie, Becky,Ashling and with Claire up front. WYW had caused all sorts of problems for the UCD defence from set-pieces in the last game in Jackson Park and it proved to be the same again early on tonight as the first chance fell to Wexford after nine minutes when UCD had to clear off their own goal line from a WYW free-kick. Two minutes later, another WYW set-piece, this time a corner, was allowed by UCD to travel all the way to the far post where Linda Douglas managed to scramble it home for 1-0. However, UCD deserve credit for the way they battled back in this first half, led by an excellent Aine O'Gorman, and Aine got the equaliser on 22 minutes when she hit the bar with a shot, Julie-Ann Russell hit the post with the follow-up and then Aine O'Gorman won a 50-50 with the last Youths defender to enable her to get the ball into the net for 1-1.

UCD then went ahead on 32 minutes when WYW lost the ball in their own half and the cross came into the Youth's penalty area where Aine O'Gorman was able to nod it home for 2-1 to UCD. However, this lead only lasted two minutes as WYW then got the equaliser for 2-2 when Claire O'Riordan managed to get past the last UCD defender and, although the UCD keeper was able to parry Claire's first effort, she couldn't stop Claire putting away the rebound for 2-2. With seven minutes to go in the half, Kylie Murphy had an excellent left-footed effort which the UCD keeper managed to push away for a corner. With a minute to go, Claire O'Riordan set up Kylie Murphy for a right-footed effort which she blasted into the top corner from outside the box to give WYW a 3-2 lead at half-time. An absolutely cracking game of football in the first half from two teams who both knew the importance of the game.

[ForzaForth]

Second half wasn't as dramatic as the first period as WYW more or less killed the game off after six minutes of the re-start when the ball dropped to Becky Cassin just inside the UCD penalty area, and she finished into the roof of the net for 4-2. UCD didn't look as if they could come back from that deficit and the game meandered quietly from then till the end. On 60 minutes, Aoibhin Webb came on in place of Becky Cassin and, with 15 to go, Bosco Conlon for Linda Douglas with Bosco doing well on the left hand side from then on. Last sub for WYW was Lolly Conlon with a few minutes to go and the only scare for WYW was right at the end when Tamara Furlong in the WYW goal had to pull off a close-range save to keep the final score at 4-2. The battle between Aine O'Gorman and WYW's Ruth Fahy was worth the entrance money alone with the latter getting the official award as player of the match. However, Kylie Murphy looked the best midfielder on the pitch by far while Claire O'Riordan was astonishingly good plying a lone furrow up front as the only centre-forward for WYW. Should also mention Tamara Furlong in goal who was given a lot of back-passes to deal with and managed to deal very competently with each one. 4-2 to WYW at full-time and good to see the crowd picking up some more.