- Peter Doyle
- Mon, Mar 12 2012
The Bus Eireann Women's National League continues to throw up shocks and suprises as Wexford Youths travelled to Newcastle to take on the league leaders Peamount United and came away all three points after a thrilling encounter.
The girls in Pink were dealt a blow in the warm up when inspirational captain Kylie Murphy picked up a back injury that saw her having to be removed from the starting line up and being replaced by the youthful Alysha Cullen. Peamount had troubles of their own as Sara Lawlor and Grace Murray were both out due to injuries picked up on international duty.
With both managers having to make changes, it took twenty minutes for the game to find any sort of rhythm and it was the home side who enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges and both Claire Kinsella and Stephanie Roche both brought good saves from Charlotte McCormack.
Rianna Jarrett and Cherelle Khessal were both causing problems for the home defence and Khessal had two efforts well saved by Aine Genocky, one in particular was exceptional as she denied the diminutive forward with her feet before gathering safely.
The breakthrough came on twenty two minutes when Claire Kinsella got on the end of a Dora Gorman diagonal ball and gave the advancing McCormack no chance as she put the ball safely in the corner of the net.
After been already beaten three times this season by Peamount, the Youths would be forgiven for maybe feeling that defeat number four was imminent and roll over. However, instead they showed character and brought the game to Peamount and just after the half hour mark, Cherelle Khessal used her speed and agility to race onto an Edel Kennedy ball and did enough to squeeze the ball past Genocky to level the game up.
With Peamount still reeling from this setback, two minutes later, Khessal sent a low shot across the area which was spilled by Genocky and Sadie Murphy was on hand to squeeze the ball into the net and the lead for Wexford.
The Peamount keeper had picked up a knock in her attempt to deny the first goal and it had obvious effects for the second and had to be removed to be replaced by substitute Emily Cahill. The Wexford side were now in the ascendency and could have increased her lead as the hard working Rianna Jarrett saw her shot go wide of the post just before half time as Peamount tried to come to terms with what was an unusual position for them to be in.
The second half saw the home side come out determined to make an impact and Caroline Thorpe brought a save from the keeper early on but from that point on, the Wexford took a grip of the game and never allowed Peamount any time of space with Edel Kennedy and Ciara O Brien working tirelessly to stem any flow through midfield. Laura Heffernan replaced Alysha Cullen just on the hour mark while Maria Delahunty replaced Linda Douglas with fifteen minutes to go.
Both Rianna Jarrett and Cherelle Khessel brought saves from stand in keeper Cahill within thirty seconds of each other and with minutes to go Rachel Hutchinson replaced Jarrett who had put probably her best display in a Wexford jersey.
Despite Peamount doing their best to grab that equaliser, the visitors were in no mood to allow a famous victory to slip through their fingers and held them at bay until referee Rob Harvey sounded the final whistle after just three minutes of injury time. In such a match where a team has to work together it is almost impossible to select players who excelled but sixteen year old Katie White deserves a mention as she made her full debut for Wexford against the high profile Peamount side
Peamount United: Aine Genocky, Melissa Haughton, Chloe Mustaki, Karen Duggan, Dora Gorman, Jenny Critchely, Louise Quinn, Caroline Thorpe, Stephanie Roche, Claire Kinsella, Emily Cahill, Jenny Ferrari, Lauren Cavanagh
Wexford Youths Women: Charlotte McCormack, Jessica Gleeson, Linda Douglas, Ciara O Brien, Rianna Jarrett, Edel Kennedy, Alysha Cullen, Cherelle Khassal, Nicola Dunphy, Katie White, Sadie Murphy, Laura Heffernan, Maria Delahunty, Rachel Hutchinson
Referee: Robert Harvey
Attendance: 60 (Estimated)
