WNL Preview: UCD Waves -v- Wexford Youths

UCD Waves -V- Wexford Youths, Jackson Park

19/04/15, Kick-Off: 14:00

Match Referee: Rhona Daly

UCD Waves

The home side head into Sunday’s game against league champions Wexford Youths on the back of five straight victories, keeping four clean sheets and conceding just twice in the process.

Waves will be aiming to build on the momentum built up in recent games, however due to an odd number of team in the league and the International break Eileen Gleeson’s side have not been in league action in the last four weeks.

Extratime.ie spoke to UCD’s Jetta Berrill about the break in fixtures.

“It obviously isn’t ideal that there has been such a gap in the league for us but it’s just the way the league fell. We’ve been training hard since our last game and everyone is looking forward to the game on Sunday.”

UCD will be looking to gain their first victory against Youth’s and in the process secure second position in the league.

“Well we all know what we have to do on Sunday to take a step closer to securing second place. We know the ability of Wexford, but we also know our own ability and we feel if we play to our strengths we can go out and win the game. We are aware that Wexford will want to end their season on a high so they will be up for it which hopefully will make for a good game.”

With UCD Waves being a new side into the league this season, it was always going to take time for player’s to gel together and Berrill explained to Extratime.ie that the management are constantly working hard to improve the Waves squad.

“Yes definitely, our management works really hard in developing the squad and I think that will be obvious next season. We were never going to have it easy at the start of this season, but to think we could potentially come second is a credit to the girls and our management.

“Eileen brought in new players in January including Niamh Prior who has just been playing with the U17’s in the European qualifiers, so hopefully players like Niamh will develop and help strengthen the squad next season.”

Wexford Youths

Wexford Youths make the trip to the capital in for their final league fixture aiming to return to winning ways, having suffered only their second league defeat at the hands of Peamount United in Ferrycarrig Park.

Extratime.ie spoke to Youths Ciara Rossiter about suffering defeat to Peamount on the day Youths received the Continental Tyres Women’s National League trophy.

“Peamount were outstanding they played absolutely brilliant and definitely deserved the win on the day. We go into every match focused and wanting to win, it was just one of those days every team has them now and again. Of course very disappointed and it kind of took the buzz away from the day for a while.”

On Sunday Youths will be looking to record their third league victory over the hosts this season, Rossiter told Extratime.ie the Youths players are focused have put in the hard work on the training park to ensure they get all three points.

“We're definitely more determined to win the game on Sunday training has been brilliant and everyone is buzzing for the last game of the season, we just want to go out and enjoy our football, score a few goals play the way we love to play which we failed to do against Peamount last week.”

Rossiter will be hoping that a victory on Sunday could be the start of a good few days on a personal note as Ciara was nominated for the Continental Tyres Women’s National League Young Player of the Year award which take place next Wednesday 22nd of April.

“I wasn't expecting it at all I was very shocked but obviously delighted and thankful to everyone, epically the rest of the girls every single one of them deserve to win an award the whole team are outstanding without them none of this would've happened.”

Match Stats

Wexford have won all three previous meetings, scoring six goals and conceding just once.

In the club’s first ever meeting Youths secured a 1-0 away victory.

3-0 victory in Ferrycarrig Park in the sides’ most recent meeting.

Youths secured a 2-1 victory in the League Cup quarter-final.