Wexford FC Women v Peamount

[ForzaForth]

Wexford had to work very hard to collect the three points in a tough and uncompromising game in Ferrycarrig this evening, but the result should really serve to kickstart their season. Wexford made one change from the defeat to Athlone with Lauren Dwyer coming in and went with Maria, Grace, Lolly, Della, Lauren, Kylie, Becky, Aoife, Ellen, Rossi and Teegan. Peamount had some very good spells during the game and one of these occurred at the start where Wexford found it hard to get out of their own half. The Peas won a few frees inside the Wexford half from the off and then, on ten minutes, Dolan for the Peas had a shot from distance a couple of yards wide . It took Wexford almost a quarter of an hour to secure the ball inside their opponent’s half and, a few minutes later, Becky Cassin had a shot from distance which went wide of the Peas’ goal. On sixteen minutes, Becky Cassin had a great chance when good work by Ellen Molloy out wide led to a low cross, but Becky’s effort from close in fell straight into the hands of Amanda Budden. On 19 minutes, Peamount went close again when a shot was deflected by a Wexford defender just past Wexford’s own post for a corner and, from that corner, a free header by the Peas was headed wastefully over the Wexford crossbar. The Peas then went even closer to opening the scoring when Doyle’s low shot hit the inside of the Wexford post but somehow stayed out. As the half neared its end, Peamount again had a spell of dominance as Wexford couldn’t get out of their half with Doyle scooping the ball over the Wexford bar after being found by a good cross by Becky Watkins. 0-0 at halftime with Peamount having comfortably shaded the first period.

[ForzaForth]

Wexford definitely showed more energy in the second period and Ellen Molloy had a chance early on with a scuffed shot with her less-favoured right peg. After a spell where neither side dominated, Wexford got their noses in front when a free by Becky Cassin brushed the top of the head of a Peamount defender, and the ball ended up in the corner of the Peas goal to put Wexford slightly fortuitously a goal to the good. The referee appeared to overrule the linesman who appeared to flag for some other decision. The Peas applied a good deal of pressure as the game went on but Wexford managed to survive notably helped by some good goalkeeping by Maria O’Sullivan. Subs for Wexford as the half progressed included Lauren Kelly and Charlotte Cromack. The Peas appeared to have a good shout for a peno about midway through the half when a Peas forward went over the outstretched leg of Lauren Dwyer inside the Wexford area, but the referee adjudged it as a dive and flashed a yellow. Last chance for the Peas came in injury-time when a reaction shot at Wexford’s far post was sliced wide. So, 1-0 to Wexford at full-time and a combative performance by the home side. Best for Wexford were the returning Lauren Dwyer alongside Della Doherty in the middle of the back four, a tigerish Becky Cassin in midfield with Aoife Kelly impressing also in the engine-room and Maria O’Sullivan very solid in goal. 1-0 to Wexford at full-time.