Wexford FC Women v Cliftonville (Avenir Cup)

Performance of real encouragement from Wexford in Ferrycarrig this evening as they put a pre-season Cliftonville to the sword. Wexford started with Nicole, Abby, Della, Kylie, Ellen, Ceola, Rossi, Meabh, Nicola, Aoibheann and Aine. First ten minutes or so were relatively even as Rossi hit the Cliftonville crossbar with a shot but was ruled offside in any event and Cliftonville had a volley a yard or two wide of the Wexford goal. On 14 minutes, however, Wexford’s undoubted player of the match, Ceola Bergin, got her first of the game when a stray Cliftonville defender played her onside and she slotted it past McAllister in the Cliftonville goal for 1-0 to Wexford. After Ceola had a volleyed effort over the Cliftonville bar, Ceola made it 2-0 to Wexford when she ran through again and coolly finished for her second of the game. Wexford continued to dominate and on the half hour mark, the lively Aine Walsh was through down Wexford’s right but couldn’t keep her shot on target and then Kylie Murphy had an effort tipped over the Cliftonville crossbar by McAllister. With Nicole Nix largely a spectator in the Wexford goal, Ellen Molloy chipped over the Cliftonville crossbar when it looked easier to score but wasn’t to be denied some minutes later when she finished with her left past McAllister for 3-0. 3-0 to Wexford at halftime.

Wexford continued to dominate in the second half as Cliftonville gradually faded out of the game. Other than a few routine catches, Nicole Nix had her first save of the game on the hour mark when she got down to save at the foot of Wexford’s left-hand post to keep Cliftonviille scoreless. On 22 minutes, Ceola Bergin, who gave the Cliftonville defence a torrid time all game, got her fourth when she chipped the Cliftonville keeper from 30 yards out for her hat-trick and Wexford’s fourth goal. Subs for Wexford were Mia Lenihan and Teegan Lynch and later Emily Corbet, Millie Daly and Freya De Mange. Emily Corbet then showed her goal-scoring qualities with a lovely left-footed curling shot for 5-0 and a cool left-footed finish for 6-0 to Wexford at the end. Good performances all over the pitch by Wexford while best for Cliftonville were Abbie Magee, Caitlin McGuinness and Orleigh McGuinness.