In advance of WYW's second match against Gintra tonight, just googled more details of the Kazygurt stars which made such a difference on Tuesday. Firstly, Charity Adule, a Nigerian international , a stunning player with outstanding pace. Could make breaks all on her own and was able to close down opposing defenders so quickly. Next came Alina Litvinenko, a taller player with great feet playing wide left. A Kyrgyzstani international, she has the record of scoring the youngest ever international goal at 13 years and 131 days. Third was Annette Jacky Messomo, a Cameroonian international and the midfield enforcer who had a great battle with Kylie Murphy. Last was Gulnara Gabelia, a Georgian international who was very useful down the right but not in the same league as the first two mentioned above. Now looking forward to the Gintra game tonight.
Close game in Ferrycarrig tonight between two evenly matched sides in which Wexford will be heart-broken to have conceded in the last minute of injury-time but which was marred by the most chronically inept display by a Greek referee that I've ever seen. So many infringements by both sides were missed by the referee and poor decisions given that it had the whole stand shaking their heads by the end. (Under UEFA rules, everyone was forced to sit in the stand). Wexford had beaten Gintra 1-0 last year so it was always going to be a close game. WYW began with one change from the side which started against Kazygurt with Amy Walsh coming on in place of an injured Lolly Conlon and went with Tamara, Nicola, Jess, Lauren, Amy, Linda, Emma, Kylie, Aisling, and Maria and Claire up front. With two even teams, chances were relatively scarce and, on six minutes, Kylie had a free header from a set-piece but put it wide. A minute later, WYW gave the ball away in their own half but Tamara got down to save the weak shot by a Gintra forward. On ten minutes, a Gintra player got the ball outside the box and slotted it home to the top left corner for a 1-0 lead to the away side. On 15 minutes, Claire O'Riordan was put through and blazed over but was flagged for offside anyway. On 25 minutes, Claire had a header just over from a cross by Kylie. With 40 minutes gone, Tamara had to punch a good Gintra free-kick away. A woeful dive by a Gintra player which the referee bought then got a yellow for Jess Gleeson for dissent and half-time came in a close game with Gintra 1-0 up.
First minute of second half saw another yellow for Emma Hansberry, again for dissent, after another poor refereeing decision. With ten minutes gone of the second period, Claire was sent free down the left, but pulled her left-footed shot wide. On the hour mark, WYW drew level when a far-post corner eventually reached Lauren Dwyer at the outskirts of the penalty area and she stroked the ball home with a half-volley for 1-1. However, tragedy was to strike Lauren five minutes when she won an absolutely clean tackle in her own area, but was red-carded and a penalty awarded by the referee which couldn't be believed by the neutral Kazygurt players and fans around me. However, the penalty was hit wide but WYW were left with ten players. With twenty minutes to go, Chelsee Snell came on in place of Amy Walsh. Kazygurt had two chances on the break after that but missed both while WYW were also able to apply some pressure. However, in the last minute of injury-time, Tamara could only parry a high shot by a Gintra player and the rebound was knocked home to leave Gintra 2-1 winners after a very close game.
Would expect Kazygurt to beat Gintra in the deciding game on Sunday. Gintra looked the fitter and more technical side and the big failing for Wexford was giving the ball away far too cheaply at times against a team which closed them down somewhat quicker than normal. However, Wexford were dominant in the air and often got thumped after winning the heading duel without the referee giving them anything. Wexford were also stronger in the physical stakes thus making for an intriguing contest. Best for Wexford was again Claire O'Riordan who, as always, carried the attacking threat largely on her own. The inability to get someone to support her quickly is proving a major headache for the home side since the departure of Carol Breen. Also thought Linda Douglas and Nicola Sinnott impressed greatly on the night. Another fantastic crowd with about 600 at the match.
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