Women’s Match Report: Wexford FC (H)
Both teams started brightly, and it was clear it was both were intent on playing a nice brand of football.
Athlone had a much-changed team to the one that we were used to when we won the championship last season and on the Wexford side it was great to see Ellen Molloy back in the League of Ireland.
Wexford were intent on playing out from the back and there were a few moments early in the game where the Athlone press almost caught them out.
In the 8th minute we saw a glimpse of why Kelly Brady was so sought after when ball forward from Sarah Flannelly saw Brady spin Della Doherty but her shot she narrowly missed the Wexford goal.
In the 10th minute Maria O’Sullivan in the Wexford goal played a short kickout to Orlaith Conlon it was played back to O’Sullivan and Kelly Brady pounced. Brady put O’Sullivan under pressure and won the ball in the 6-yard box and it looked a certain goal but somehow O’Sullivan made a save to keep the game 0-0 she made up for her error.
Athlone did find the front in the 12th minute when a 1-2 between Brady and Ryan saw Izzy get in behind and she had time to pick out her cross and it was turned into her own net by Della Doherty to put the hosts 1-0 to the good.
On 30 mins Athlone had a great chance to double their lead Kelly Brady found Ryan in space but her shot rattled the crossbar but it wouldn’t have counted if it went in because the offside flag went up.
it wasn’t all Athlone and Wexford had a chance to pull one back in the 35th minute when a cross found Ciara Rossiter on the edge of the box and she turned it towards goal, but it rolled wide of the Athlone goal.
Some great pressing work from the Athlone forwards including Aoife Murphy O Connor and Roisin Molloy saw Wexford forced into a pass which was intercepted by Izzy Groves and her pass found Kelly Brady who riffled her shot home to put the town 2-0 up. It was enough to see the teams going in at half time with a 2-0 scoreline.
Wexford started the second half with purpose and were getting forward a lot more but were reminded how dangerous Athlone were with Roisin Molloy firing narrowly over on 52 minutes.
On 59 minutes Wexford thought they had pulled one back a freekick was headed forward by Kylie Murphy into the path of Becky Cassin her shot was saved by Plaschko and fell kindly to Della Doherty who was unlucky not to get one back for the visitors.
Both teams would go on to create chances but it was the home side who held on for the win and sees them begin their defence of the championship with a three points and clean sheet which will please new manager Colin Fortune.
Athlone Town AFC: Megan Plaschko, Kellie Brennan, Kayleigh Shine, Shauna Brennan, Sarah Flannelly (Hannah Waesch 28’), Israela Groves©, Kelly Brady, Roisin Molloy, Isabel Ryan, Aoife O’Connor (Hazel Donegan 79’), Ciara O’Neill
Unused Substitutes: Maria Matthaiou, Christianna Kiamou, Lucy Fitzgerald, Erica Cunningham
Bookings: None
Attendance: 271
AthloneTownAFC.ie Player of The Match: Isabel Ryan
Match Report Photo by Conor Brennan – view all photos here