WYW v Peamount (League)

[ForzaForth]

Usual (for this season) defeat by the odd goal against the champions-elect in Greenogue tonight, but curiously I think Wexford will gain a great deal of confidence from their level of performance as they went toe-to-toe with the probable league champions. Wexford started with Maeve, Lynn, Nicola, Lauren Dwyer, Lolly, Aisling, Edel, Kylie, Ciara and with Lauren Kelly playing behind Rianna up front. Wexford had to endure a very ropey first five minutes, however, as they coughed up four nearly identical chances which all fell to Naima Chemaou of the Peas. Fortunately, Maeve Williams in the Wexford goal managed to save two while the other two chances drifted wide of either post and it remained at 0-0. The Peas continued to dominate and it came as no surprise when a Peas cross fell to Megan Smith Lynch inside the Wexford area who blasted it high into the roof of the net and Peamount were a goal to the good. It took Wexford twenty minutes to fashion a reasonable chance and it led to the equaliser as Lauren Kelly produced a sumptuous cross from wide left to the far post where Kylie Murphy was free to head home to give Niamh Reid Burke in the Peas goal no chance and it was 1-1. The Wexford equaliser gave the away side a new lease of life as they played with far more brio from then on and were unlucky not to be ahead by the break. After a Peas volley went over the Wexford bar, Wexford went close with a header by Rianna Jarrett from a corner and then Niamh Reid Burke had to save with her feet from a one-on-one with Rianna coming in from an angle from the left. The excellent Ciara Rossiter for Wexford, improving in leaps and bounds after what seems like nearly three seasons out through injury, then also had a chance to beat Reid Burke in the Peas goal, but again the latter was able to save with her feet. Another Rianna Jarrett effort on goal was also pushed away by Reid Burke and Wexford went in on level terms at half-time and looking reasonably comfortable.

[ForzaForth]

The second half was also a fifty-fifty game but one in which the Peas managed to notch their second and decisive goal. It began with an early chance for Kylie Murphy whose shot was just deflected wide of the Peas post for a corner. Wexford nearly managed to score from that corner, but Reid Burke managed to claw the ball away from the top corner of the net. Rianna Jarrett then attempted to lob Reid Burke but the Peas keeper just managed to get a strong hand to it. The second goal for Peas came about the twenty minute mark when a shot from distance by Eleanor Ryan Doyle got past Maeve Williams in the Wexford goal. Aoife Slattery came on for Wexford as Ciara Rossiter’s effort on goal was again just touched past the Peas goal-post. Vanessa Ogbonna then came on for Wexford to bolster the Wexford attack. A very late Peas effort on goal brushed the top of the Wexford crossbar and stayed out while another Kylie Murphy header went close right at the end of the game. So, 2-1 to the Peas at the end after an excellent game and one which will probably give Wexford some confidence as they face their crucial cup semi-final in the next couple of weeks.