Ajax (UEFA Womens Qualifiers)

Wexford ultimately found the gap between full-time professional and amateur too hard to bridge as they conceded late goals to a very impressive Ajax side on the all-weather pitch at Seaview, Belfast. Wexford started with Ciamh, Nicola, Lauren, Lolly, Doireann, Katrina, Edel, Kylie, Emma, Aisling and with Rianna up front. First half was dominated in possession terms by Ajax but they found it hard to create chances against a Wexford side which were well-martialled through the directions of manager, Tom Elmes. However, Emma Hansberry was the first to threaten a goal on 12 minutes when a long effort gave the Ajax keeper a chance to stretch upwards and catch on the first bounce. On 17 minutes Ajax managed their first shot on target by Van Der Most, but it was straight at Ciamh Dollard in the Wexford goal. With 24 minutes gone, Ciamh Dollard was very brave to dive at an Ajax forward’s feet and good enough to come away with the ball. Zeeman of Ajax, who was spraying the ball round in midfield, then got a yellow for a pull-back on Edel Kennedy, and with five to go, Katrina Parrock was also pulled back when driving into the Ajax box, but this time there was no card but only a free. Ajax then had a shot which was driven over the Wexford bar and it ended 0-0 at half-time but you knew that Wexford had been asked to put in a harder shift than they were used to.

Is there any truth in the cliché that the worst thing you can do is score? That was what it seemed like as Wexford won an early free in the second half and the free was pumped into the Ajax area by Emma Hansberry where Rianna Jarrett, who had been giving her marker a torrid time, powered home a bullet header for 1-0 to Wexford. Unfortunately, Wexford then couldn’t make Ajax sweat as the Dutch side went up the pitch immediately where De Sanders buried a chance for 1-1. Emma Hansberry then put in another dangerous cross for Wexford but from about this time, you could see that Ajax’s possession and greater fitness was beginning to take its toll on the Wexford team. It became 2-1 in favour of Ajax on nine minutes when their winger put ina low cross which was steered home by Jansen. Ajax then had a cracker of a volley which hit the bar before a third goal came the way of the Dutch side with a tap home by Oudemast. Orla Casey replaced Kylie Murphy for Wexford and it soon was 4-1 as Van Der Most chipped Ciamh Dollard in the Wexford goal. Becky Conroy and McKenna Davidson were further subs for Wexford before Ciamh Dollard pulled off a fantastic save late on to deny Ajax a fifth goal. So, 4-1 to Ajax at full-time.

Ajax are reputedly putting big money into their women’s team and the physical gap between a full-time set-up and teams such as Wexford is only going to get bigger until the FAI start funding the women’s game on a proper basis at national level. Wexford now face Thor KA of Iceland on Friday which, if internet reports are correct, are a domestic side helped by a small number of professionals. Overall, couldn’t fault Wexford’s effort on the day.