WYW v Shelbourne LFC

[ForzaForth]

For anyone interested, it's planned to have audio commentary on tonight's match at the usual link (k.o. 7.30pm).

www.mixlr.com/wexfordfc

[ForzaForth]

Draw a reasonable result in a tense and cagey affair in Ferrycarrig tonight, which should suit the Slaneysiders more in their efforts to secure the title rather than Shelbourne. With none of the four Wexford returnees from Taipei starting, Wexford went with Sophie, Nicola, Jess, Lolly, Lauren, Linda, Kylie, Becky, Edel, Emma and with Katrina Parrock up front. Shels started the brighter for the first ten minutes or so and nearly profited from an easy drop by Sophie Lenehan in the first couple of minutes from a Shels corner. Wexford then had a good move thwarted by a Kylie Murphy offside before Shels had a free blocked for a corner. Game then became more even as Wexford began to grow into the game. On 25 minutes, Wexford’s Jess Gleeson got a yellow for a tackle on the touchline. Wexford then nearly scored when Amanda McQuillan drilled a clearance into Jamie Finn, her own defender, but the ball trickled just the wrong side of the post for only a Wexford corner. On 34 minutes, Lauren Dwyer did well to block Shelbourne’s Gloria Douglas from reaching a dangerous cross. Pearl Slattery then got a yellow for what looked like dissent before Becky Cassin just couldn’t get a lob on target for Wexford. 0-0 at half-time.

[ForzaForth]

Wexford looked the more likely team to score in the second half as Shelbourne seemed to run out of steam a bit, perhaps reflecting their recent tough schedule. Siobhan Killeen had an early lob just over the Wexford bar for a good chance for Shels. On 55 minutes,Claire O’Riordan and Aisling Frawley came on in place of Linda Douglas and Katrina Parrock for Wexford. Alex Kavanagh then picked up a yellow for a block on Edel Kennedy for Wexford. Just over the hour mark, Wexford had their purple patch when Becky Cassin pulled a really good save from Amanda McQuillan for a corner. From that corner, Edel Kennedy thundered a first-time volley a couple of feet over the bar. This was followed by an Emma Hansberry shot which McQuillan was happy to push away. Late sub for Wexford was Orla Casey and, in injury time, Kylie Murphy had a chance to be the heroine when she met a cross by Emma Hansberry inside the Shels box, but her first-time effort was over the bar. So, 0-0 at full-time with best for Wexford a super effort by the back four of Nicola, Lolly, Jess and Lauren while Emma Hansberry was probably the pick of the Wexford players further up the field. For Shelbourne, Niamh Prior, Siobhan Killeen and Pearl Slattery impressed. 0-0 at full-time.