Wexford Youths Women v UCD Waves

[ForzaForth]

Welcome three points but essentially a laboured performance by Wexford in Jackson Park this afternoon as they struggled to put together sustained passages of good play against a stubborn UCD side. Indeed, just before the solitary goal was scored,Wexford skipper Kylie Murphy demanded more quality play from her team-mates on what looked like a good playing surface. With Aoibhin Webb injured, Wexford started with Sophie, Nicola, Lauren, Lolly, Becky Cassin, Aisling, Edel, Kylie, Becky Conroy and with Claire and Rianna inter-changing up front. Wexford had their better half in the first period and should have been in front by half-time but failed to finish any of their numerous chances. On seven minutes, Aisling Frawley attempted to chip the UCD keeper but it was hit too low. Kylie Murphy was then just unable to make contact with a good cross by Becky Conroy. Aisling had a shot saved by the UCD keeper’s legs, while Becky Conroy had a shot just deflected the wrong side of the post for a corner. Rianna followed these by warming the hands of the UCD keeper and Lolly Conlon also tested the UCD keeper from long-range. Best effort of the half came from Aisling Frawley who turned inside off her left and smashed a shot off the crossbar. 0-0 at half-time with Sophie Lenehan yawning in the Wexford goal other than coming out smartly on one occasion to grab the ball at the feet of a UCD attacker.

[ForzaForth]

Wexford began with two decent chances early in the second half with Edel Kennedy pulling a shot a yard wide and Becky Conroy hitting the side-netting. Wexford then seemed to lose their way a bit and, on 67 minutes, Tom Elmes brought on Orla Casey for Becky Conroy. This proved the key to unlocking the UCD defence as Orla drilled a low cross with her left which crucially managed to beat the first defenders and Rianna Jarrett was nicely placed to slot past the UCD keeper for 1-0 to Wexford. Katrina Parrock soon replaced a struggling Lauren Dwyer and worked hard down the right wing and Amy Walsh replaced Claire O’Riordan. Other than a few UCD efforts from long-range which went over the bar, one of which wasn’t far away, Wexford didn’t look to be in danger of dropping their valuable haul of three points. Best for Wexford were Aisling Frawley, Rianna Jarrett, Claire O’Riordan and Lauren Dwyer before she went off injured. For UCD, Erika Turner did nothing wrong between the sticks while Chloe Mustaki and Nemma Chemaou worked really hard in a battling UCD midfield. 1-0 to Wexford at full-time but the champs will have to up their game to continue their unbeaten run since the start of the season.