WYW v DLR Waves

[ForzaForth]

Good second-half performance enabled Wexford to secure the three points after a competitive game in Ferrycarrig this evening. There also appeared to be good news on the injury front with Edel Kennedy and Ellen Molloy both named on the bench although Ellen didn’t feature in the game. In addition, Shauna Carroll and Louise Corrigan were both doing warm-up shuttles prior to the match. Wexford started with Maeve, Lolly, Kylie, Abbie, Rossi, Jess, Meabh, Nicola, Aoibheann, Rianna and Freya. Wexford scored with virtually their first attack when Rossi got first to a cross from Wexford’s right in the DLR penalty area and knocked the ball into the air which enabled Kylie Murphy to finish acrobatically with her left foot over her own shoulder for 1-0 Wexford. Wexford were the more dominant force from then on as a Kylie Murphy header was grabbed easily enough by Badana in the DLR goal and an Abbie Brophy shot was also held safely by Badana. On 17 minutes, however, DLR equalised when the ball broke to Michelle Doonan in space when a DLR corner was half-cleared by the Wexford defence. Doonan found Wexford’s far post nicely with her shot from an angle and it was 1-1. Maeve Williams and Badana then both had a good save each before, on 25 minutes, a point-blank header by Kylie Murphy was pushed over her own bar by Badana and, six minutes later, Rianna Jarrett scooped an effort both over Badana and the DLR crossbar to leave the score at 1-1. A Wexford defensive error gifted DLR’s Freya Roche a decent chance but she could only find the side netting of Wexford’s goal. With halftime approaching, Wexford took the lead again through the efficient finishing of Rianna Jarrett who took one touch to control the ball, and a second to lift it over Badana and into the empty DLR net. 2-1 to Wexford at halftime.

[ForzaForth]

Second half saw Wexford taking more control, but a spell of three corners in a row by DLR demonstrated the importance of a third goal for Wexford. On four minutes, Kylie Murphy had a cushion volley just wide of the DLR post for Wexford. About the quarter-hour mark, Emily Corbet and Lauren Dwyer came on for Wexford and, eight minutes later, Ceola Bergin and Edel Kennedy were also introduced. The changes may have upset Wexford’s pattern of play because it led to DLR’s most dangerous spell as a DLR shot was deflected for a corner and, from that corner, Abbie Brophy headed an effort by DLR’s Jess Gleeson off the Wexford goal-line. From the second corner, the Wexford defence could only block the ball on their own goal-line, with some shouts by DLR for a hand-ball penalty, before it was cleared at the expense of a third corner. However, on 29 minutes, Wexford got the insurance third goal when Abbie Brophy was sent free down Wexford’s right and her shot found the top right corner and 3-1 to Wexford. Soon afterwards, Emily Corbet showed her composure in front of goal when she rounded Badana and knocked it home with her left for 4-1. A late sub for Wexford was Michaela Lawrence and it finished 4-1 to Wexford at the end. Best for Wexford were Rianna Jarrett, Kylie Murphy and Meabh Russell while Maeve Williams was very secure in the Wexford goal with every ball played back to her on the ground. For DLR, Michelle Doonan was a constant threat while Neema Nyangasi has improved in leaps and bounds since her Wexford days. 4-1 to Wexford at the end.