League Report: Treaty United 1 - 5 Wexford Youths

Tadhg Williams reports from the Market's Field

A dominant Wexford Youths oversaw Treaty United by five goals to one in Market’s Field on Saturday afternoon.

A Jenna Slattery penalty wasn’t enough for the home side as goals from Ellen Molloy, Aisling Frawley, Lauren Kelly, Edel Kennedy and Blessing Kingsley saw the Leinster club capitalise on last week’s win over Peamount.

Treaty put on all the pressure in the first couple of minutes, and a strong strike from Maura Shine from outside the box was at an easy height for Ciamh Gray to get behind and catch.

It was ten minutes before Wexford had the opportunity to get their first shot on goal due to a mistake from Treaty centre half Alannah Mitchell.

Lauren Kelly had the opportunity to square a ball across the box to Ellen Molloy, whose attempted placed shot bobbled past the right post.

Treaty played well in the first 20 minutes with some strong defending and stepping up a couple of times to catch Wexford winger-turned-striker Aisling Frawley offside.  

But it looked like it was only a matter of time before Wexford broke down the Treaty defence and a mistake from Michaela Mitchell in the Treaty goal nearly gave Kylie Murphy the chance.

A collision as Mitchell tackled for the ball back meant Murphy went down, but the referee waved play on.

Five minutes later and it was 1-0 to Wexford. Treaty’s 16-year-old centre half Jenna Slattery took down Ellen Molloy on the right flank.

The resulting free kick caught out keeper Michaela Mitchell at her near post. Five from five for the WNL Player of the Month.

From then on it was Wexford who dominated. A nice period of possession a few minutes later ended with Edel Kennedy hitting a powerful shot from 25 yards but it floated well wide of the Treaty goal in the city end of Market’s Field.

Only a minute later Aisling Frawley’s cross was met at the near post by the head of Kylie Murphy. Poor accuracy on the shot meant the scoreline stayed at 1-0.

Treaty continuing to play short balls from kicks outs and attempting to play it out from the back was only causing themselves problems with Wexford sharp to regain possession high up the field.

Wexford went two up seven minutes before half time. A poor throw out from Michaela Mitchell was intercepted by Aisling Frawley.

Frawley then knocked the ball between Alannah Mitchell and Marie Curtin and lifted it over the keeper.

Wexford pressure was mounted on the Treaty defence at this stage of the first half. Frawley, racing towards the box, was tackled well by Alannah Mitchell but the ball came loose to Lauren Kelly whose shot is easily saved by Michaela Mitchell.

There weren’t many chances for Treaty in the first half but a free kick from the halfway line was one of them. The ball met the head of Chloe Connolly but the ball was easily caught by Ciamh Gray.

The first half ended with a penalty shout for Treaty. Two minutes into added time a Gillian Keenan shot from a superb run was very well blocked by Orlaith Conlon.

The ball then seemed to ricochet off a Wexford defender, with Treaty players claiming it came off an arm. Referee Vicki McEnery waved the play on.

Wexford didn’t have to wait long to extend their lead in the second half. Almost immediately from kick off, Ellen Molloy played the ball down the left flank for Kylie Murphy to run onto. She squared it across the six-yard box for Lauren Kelly to tap in at the far post. 3-0.

Wexford continued the second half as the ended the first. Former Limerick player Aoibheann Clancy was influential in the middle of the field, opening the play up with her turns and passing.

Indeed, Wexford could have extended their lead even more if it wasn’t for Michaela Mitchell. Ciara Rossiter’s deflected ball over the top in was met by Ellen Molloy but a strong left-handed save pushed the shot around the left post.

Treaty did have a decent period of pressure around the hour mark, keeping the ball high up the field looking for chances.

A handball from Rossiter gave the home side a free kick out on the right flank. A dangerous ball in floated into the area missed all everyone in the box however and went wide.

Michaela Mitchell was called into action again with 25 minutes remaining. Lauren Kelly’s cross was kneed high towards the goal by Kylie Murphy but the Treaty keeper did very well to launch herself into the air and push the ball away from the goalmouth.

A couple of minutes later, Mitchell once again denied Wexford a goal. Blessing Kingsley went one-on-one with the keeper and Mitchell did very well under pressure.

Treaty got on the scoresheet 16 minutes from time, perhaps controversially. Aoife Horgan’s ball into the box came off the hand of Orlaith Conlon and referee Vicki McEnery awarded a penalty to the protests of the Wexford defence.

Making her first start in the WNL, 16-year-old Slattery converted the penalty, sending substitute Maeve Williams the wrong way in the Wexford goal.

Wexford’s Breda Cushen nearly scored a spectacular half volley five minutes later. The Wexford substitute met a Kira Bates-Crosbie cross.

Her shotl high over Michaela Mitchell, bouncing off the bar and safely into the hands of the Treaty keeper.

Wexford pressure was rewarded with ten minutes left. Aoibheann Clancy’s cross from a free kick met by the head of a charging Edel Kennedy to put the away side 4-1 up.

Praise must be given to Treaty’s Michaela Mitchell, keeping the scoreline down many times throughout the second half.

With only a couple of minutes to go Ellen Molloy went through on goal but the Treaty keeper saved again, this time with her feet.  

Despite handling those one-on-one situations well throughout the second half, Blessing Kingsley finally got the better of Mitchell in the final minute.

Aoibheann Clancy played a gorgeous ball through for Kingsley to slot into the Treaty goal and wrap up a 5-1 win as Youths’ pace, fitness and strength proving too much for the Limerick side.

Treaty United: Michaela Mitchell; Gillian Keenan, Jenna Slattery, Marie Curtin (C) (Shannon Parbat 65), Alannah Mitchell, Clodagh Doherty (Anna Shine 46); Laura Kavanagh (Esra Kengal 55), Maura Shine (Tara O’Gorman 46), Cayla Davis; Chloe Connolly, Aoife Horgan

Subs not used: Maebh Ryan (GK, Rebecca Horgan, Cara Griffin

Booked: None.

Wexford Youths: Ciamh Gray (Maeve Williams 52); Ciara Rossiter (Breda Cushen 65), Orlaith Conlon, Nicola Sinnott, Lynn Craven; Ellen Molloy, Edel Kennedy, Kylie Murphy (C) (Fiona Ryan 65), Aoibheann Clancy, Lauren Kelly (Kira Bates-Crosby 65); Aisling Frawley (Blessing Kingsley 46)

Subs not used: None.

Booked: None.

Referee: Vicki McEnery

ExtraTime.ie Player of the Match: Aoibheann Clancy (Wexford Youths).