- Aaron Clarke
- Thu, Apr 21 2016
Wexford Youths closed the gap on league leaders UCD Waves to just three points thanks to a 2-1 victory at Jackson Park on Wednesday evening.
Despite a late penalty from Aine O’Gorman, second-half goals from Claire O’Riordan and Edel Kennedy were enough to see Willie Doyle’s side run out victorious in the re-arranged fixture.
Both sides went into the game knowing a victory could propel them towards the league title and it was the visitors who started the brightest with Kylie Murphy having an early shot inside the penalty area, however, her effort was blocked before Monica McGuirk smothered possession.
Moments later, Caroline Thorpe headed wide for the Waves after Wexford failed to clear a Chloe Mustaki free-kick. With little over 20 minutes gone, Thorpe's game was cut short after the Ireland international went down inside the oppositions half and her loss saw Youth’s begin to establish some strong possession in midfield.
On the half hour mark, O’Riordan will be disappointed she failed to control a Linda Douglas low cross. The ball got stuck between the forward’s legs before her shot was easily gathered by McGuirk in the UCD goal.
Soon after UCD had their best chance of the half when Youths skipper Murphy gifted Waves possession before Julie-Ann Russell released O’Gorman, but her shot was blocked away for a throw in. From the resulting throw in Russell’s shot from an acute angle could only find the roof the net.
With half-time fast approaching, McGuirk was called into action twice in quick succession. First she made an excellent low save from a Douglas effort after she raced onto an O’Riordan pass before beating two defenders and striking from just inside the box.
Moments later, UCD failed to clear a cross before the ball fell to Murphy, whose low shot was well saved by the shot-stopper. When the second-half resumed, Wexford continued where they left off in the first-half and O’Riordan was next to try her luck after a strong run, but her effort was straight at the goalkeeper.
Three minutes later, Wexford broke the deadlock when McGuirk failed to clear a backpass, the keeper was charged down and blocked by O’Riordan before the forward slotted home into an empty net for her 13th league goal of the season.
The sides would then exchange chances soon after first an Emma Hansberry shot was easily saved by the UCD keeper before O’Gorman could only fire over her long range free-kick.
Wexford doubled their advantage just after the hour mark when Kennedy latched on a lovely flighted corner from Hansberry before powering her headed effort into the back of the net.
As Youths went in search of a third goal that would kill off the tie, Hansberry picked out O’Riordan with a lovely through ball, but the forward hesitated allowing Jetta Berrill to recover and block her effort on goal.
With the Waves looking for a way back into the game, Russell had an excellent long range free-kick saved by Tamara Furlong with the keeper gathering possession at the second time of asking.
With three minutes remaining, UCD were awarded a penalty when Russell went down in the penalty area and O’Gorman duly dispatched the spot kick to set up a tense finish.
However, despite a late rally from the Waves, Wexford Youths held on for all three points and on Saturday evening they will look to join UCD at the top of the standings when they host Galway WFC at Ferrycarrig Park.
UCD Waves: Monica McGuirk; Jetta Berrill, Susan Hackett, Emily Cahill, Chloe Mustaki; Julie-Ann Russell, Karen Duggan; Caroline Thorpe (Niamh Prior 23), Orlaigh Nolan, Eleanor Ryan Doyle; Aine O’Gorman.
Subs Not Used: Ali Brien, Susan Byrne, Amy McLaughlin, Catherine Cronin.
Booked: Julie-Ann Russell (37).
Wexford Youths: Tamara Furlong; Nicola Sinnott, Ruth Fahy (Orlaith Conlon 62), Jessica Gleeson, Linda Douglas (Amy Walsh 72); Emma Hansberry, Becky Cassin (Aoibhin Webb 66), Edel Kennedy, Kylie Murphy, Aisling Frawley; Claire O’Riordan.
Subs Not Used: Shauna Wall, Rachel Hutchinson.
Booked: Emma Hansberry (87).
Attendance: 45 (estimate)
Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Emma Hansberry (Wexford Youths).
