WYW v Cork City WFC

[ForzaForth]

Absorbing contest in Ferrycarrig as Wexford’s first half dominance resulted in the home side gathering all three points and leaving them still top of the league with seven vital games to go. Wexford had a good shape right from the start playing a 4-4-1-1 with Rianna Jarrett making a welcome start up front and Claire O’Riordan playing just behind her. Wexford manager, Laura Heffernan, started with Sophie, Nicola, Jess, Lolly, Lauren, Aisling, Kylie, Becky, Linda and with Claire and Rianna up front. Wexford moved the ball round well right from the very start and virtually cemented the win with two goals from their first two effective attacks. On two minutes, a cross from the right found Claire O’Riordan in space behind Rianna in the Cork penalty box, and her first-time finish found the top corner to put Wexford ahead. It was 2-0 on seven minutes when Wexford won a corner and a flick-on from the corner found Nicola Sinnott free at the far post but facing the wrong way, but she was able to manage a neat overhead volley to execute a fine finish for 2-0. The impressive Aisling Frawley, who looks very sharp at the moment, then smacked over a good cross but nobody from Wexford was able to get on the end of it. It took Cork almost fifteen minutes to get out of their half to any effect, and a corner led to Sophie Lenehan in the Wexford goal getting underneath the first ball but doing well to smother the Cork shot at the far post to keep Wexford two goals ahead. With dangerous forwards like Saoirse Noonan and particularly Clare Shine, you won’t keep Cork quiet all the time, and Cork should have scored on 18 minutes when brilliant work by Shine along the end-line led to a dangerous cross but the first Cork attacker couldn’t connect with the goal at her mercy and the second Cork attacker had her shot blocked by a combination of Nicola Sinnott and Sophie Lenehan. Saoirse Noonan then had a speculative effort a yard over the bar before Wexford finished the half well with a good move putting Claire O’Riordan clear but just offside. 2-0 to Wexford at half-time.

[ForzaForth]

Wexford didn’t generally retain the ball as well in the second half and it led to a lot of ping-pong football. On 50 minutes, Rianna Jarrett had a chance of a header following a good cross by Linda Douglas but couldn’t get it on target. Five minutes later, Rianna was replaced by Orla Casey with Claire O’Riordan taking the centre-forward spot. Nicola Sinnott then had a chance of a second with a creative touch back to her from inside the Cork penalty area, but her effort from about 20 yards out went over the bar. This was followed by Aisling Frawley showing more of her magic as she created great space along the end-line, and her right-footed cross was followed by a left-footed chip which clipped the top of the cross-bar after the ball came back to her. With 20 minutes to go, Clare Shine made the remainder of the game interesting as she latched onto a through-ball in space and her fine volley gave Sophie Lenehan no chance t oreduce Wexford’s lead to 2-1. However, Wexford managed to get home without too many scares with Claire O’Riordan going close to getting a second with a left-footed shot. Late subs for Wexford were Emma Hansberry and Jenny O’Keefe. 2-1 to Wexford at full-time with Nicola Sinnott, Linda Douglas and Aisling Frawley impressing in particular on the night.