Linfield (UEFA Womens Qualifiers)

Really exciting finish in Seaview this afternoon as Wexford prevailed with a goal with the last kick of the game. They will, however, be slightly disappointed with letting the game reach that stage after looking in control albeit with only a slendergoal advantage coming into the last few minutes. Tom Elmes started with Sophie, Nicola, Lolly, Lauren, Becky, Aisling, Kylie, Edel. Orla, Emma and with Rianna up front. Linfield started well and forced two early corners but nothing came from either. Aisling Frawley then had a shot wide of the post after a good Wexford move on ten minutes. First goal came to Wexford on twelve minutes when dead-eye Edel Hansbery found Kylie Murphy's head from a corner and the ball hit the net off the far post. On 18 minutes it was 2-0 to Wexford when Rianna Jarrett’s class header beat Perry in the Linfield goal from a Nicola Sinnott cross. Lolly Conlon was then booked for handball but the resulting Linfield free was hit into the Wexford wall. Linfield then had a good spell when Sophie Lenehan made a good save from a Megan Bell effort and a Linfield corner soon after was deflected onto the Wexford crossbar and away. Aisling Frawley was then put away after another good Wexford move but her shot was dragged just wide of the Linfield post. Lauren Dwyer picked up another yellow for Wexford for a tackle late on the half and, from the free, Megan Bell’s effort deflected off the top of the Wexford wall to give Sophie Lenehan no chance. 2-1 to Wexford at half-time.

Second half was also more or less even between both sides. Edel Kennedy had a volley a yard wide for Wexford and, after 10 minutes of the half, Katrina Parrock replaced Orla Casey for Wexford. On 12 minutes, Linfield had a goal ruled out for offside. Sophie Lenehan in the Wexford goal went down on the ball bravely to prevent a good Linfield chance and Katrina Parrock volleyed over when well-placed for Wexford. On the half-hour, Aoife Slattery replaced Edel Kennedy in the middle of midfield with Doireann Fahey coming on with three minutes to go of normal time. Just as Wexford seemed to be coasting relatively safely to a victory, Linfield were awarded a free which bobbled around the Wexford area and it was blasted to the roof of the net by Linfield sub Timoney for 2-2. There were three minutes of injury-time and during that time Emma Hansberry had a volley saved by Linfield keeper, Perry, and then Wexford won a corner. From the corner, Emma Hansberry found Kylie Murphy in space at the near post who was able to steer the ball home just inside Linfield’s undefended far post to give Wexford a victory by 3-2 with the last kick of the game. Wexford know only too well how difficult victories are to achieve at Champions League level and they will be happy with that in what was, in hindsight, the only game in which they had a realistic chance of a win as they return to league action next week and with what seems like a clean bill of health other than long-term injuries, Ciara Rossiter and Aoibhin Webb.