WYW v Southampton

[ForzaForth]

WYW finalised their preparations for their trip to Lithuania on Monday with a decent work-out in IT Carlow this afternoon against Southampton Women who I think are in the third tier of English football. With Rianna and Lauren in California to face the USA tomorrow, Wexford began with Ciamh, Nicola, Beckie, Ciara, Lynn, McKenna, Lauren, Aoife, Fiona Ryan, and with Aisling and Blessing up front. Wexford started well although it was Southampton who had the best chance early on when a shot cracked off the inside of the post but fell straight into Ciamh Dollard’s arms. Blessing Kingsley, who looks so much happier playing centre-forward, then had a decent chance to score on nine minutes but then finished well a minute later from a cross by Aisling Frawley to make it 1-0 to Wexford. It was 2-0 to Wexford on 15 minutes when a cross by Aisling Frawley to the far post crept inside that post without anyone seemingly getting a touch on it. Southampton, who might have shown a touch higher fitness level as they improved as the first half went on, got a goal back on 23 minutes when a cross was finished to the net from close in. On the half-hour, it was 2-2 when an innocuous Southampton header found its way to the Wexford net. A decent left-footed shot by Wexford’s Fiona Ryan which went a yard over finished the half and it was 2-2 at half-time.

[ForzaForth]

Wexford brought on Doireann Fahey, Edel Kennedy and new signing from Thomastown, Ellen Molloy, at half-time. Wexford largely dominated the second half without creating too many chances as they pressed Southampton inside their own half. Lolly Conlon and Maeve Williams then came off the bench for Wexford with 15 minutes gone. With 25 minutes gone, McKenna Davidson looked to be denied a certain Wexford peno when she got whacked inside the Southampton area after having rounded the keeper but nothing was given. Further sub for Wexford was Kira Bates Crosbie, who also had a chance when she had a left-footed effort with only the Southampton keeper to beat but couldn’t keep it on target. Final Wexford sub was, subject to correction, Maria O’Callaghan, and with two minutes to go, Southampton who had posed no attacking threat in the second half, made a break down Wexford’s right and the low cross was finished nicely to leave the visitors 3-2 winners at the end.