WYW v Linfield LFC (Friendly)

Sizeable gap in terms of fitness, physical strength and technical ability as WYW comfortably saw off their Northern visitors in Bunclody this afternoon, although I understand that Linfield were missing quite a number of players. WYW began with Sophie Lenihan, Linda Douglas, Lolly Conlon, Ally O'Keeffe, Jenny O'Keeffe, Emma Hansberry, Kylie Murphy, Jess Gleeson, Becky Cassin and with Aoibhin Webb and Claire O'Riordan up front. Playing with the aid of a very strong breeze, Wexford tended to dominate right from the start. Kylie and Aoibhin had early sighters on goal before on 12 minutes Jess Gleeson's shot was trapped by Claire O'Riordan and she turned and fired low past the Linfield keeper for 1-0. It was 2-0 on 20 minutes when Emma Hansberry did well down the left wing and her low cross was finished to the net by Jess Gleeson for 2-0. Manager Laura Heffernan had sprung a surprise by moving Jess Gleeson into a more advanced role and her shooting ability from distance was put to good effect. It soon became 3-0 when Emma Hansberry took her marker out with a neat back-heel and her good finish from wide left again gave the Linfield keeper no chance. WYW then gifted Linfield a goal when Lolly Conlon over-hit a back pass past her own keeper for 3-1. However, Jess Gleeson again benefited by being further up the pitch by knocking a left-footed shot past the Linfield keeper for 4-1. Linfield then had two decent efforts on goal before Wexford hit a purple patch with three well-taken goals in three minutes. Firstly, Claire O'Riordan set up Kylie Murphy who rounded the keeper for 5-1. Then Kylie set up Aoibhin Webb for a cool finish for 6-1. Then some more neat Wexford inter-play set up Kylie for a left-footed finish and 7-1 to WYW at half-time.

Wexford began with a number of substitutions and with substituted players also allowed to come back on the pattern of the play was disturbed quite a bit. However, Aisling Frawley, Amy Walsh, Tamara Furlong, Lauren Dwyer, Chelsee Snell and Orla Casey at least saw some game-time in the second half. Playing against the strong breeze, Wexford found it harder to create chances but Wexford's substitute keeper, Tamara Furlong, hadn't much to do except pick up a few gentle daisy cutters and gather overhit long passes. When Linfield's most useful player, their left winger, did manage to have a run at Tamara, the shot was blasted a number of yards wide. Wexford's only goal of the second half came about midway through when a neat one-two between Aisling Frawley and Amy Walsh allowed Aisling to blast it past the Linfield keeper for 8-1 which turned out to be the final score. Wexford will face tougher tasks when the League commences for them on the weekend after next. 8-1 at full-time.