WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION
MATCH REPORT by CONALL COLLIER
WEXFORD 4, SLIGO ROVERS 1
Sligo Rovers conceded three second-half goals after getting back to parity as they lost to hosts Wexford in the Women’s Premier Division on Saturday night.
It was a harsh outcome for the battling Bit O’Red who lost the influential Jodie Loughrey on 66 minutes after a challenge from Wexford goalkeeper Jayne
Merren forced her out of the action and also denied what looked like a good
goal-scoring chance.
Manager Tommy Hewitt made a number of changes from the previous outing against Cork City seven days earlier with Alice Lillie, Sarah Kiernan and Amy Roddy in the starting 11 in place of Eimear Lafferty, Emma Hansberry and Paula McGrory.
Wexford hit the front after 16 minutes of a well-contested first-half when Ciara Rossiter created an opening and Ellen Molloy raced through the Bit O’Red rearguard and finished confidently to the net.
Close to the half-hour mark Wexford had a gilt-edged chance of a second goal, but Kylie Murphy headed over the bar and soon after Sligo Rovers were unlucky not to level when persistence from Jodie Loughrey was rewarded.
She got into a good position in the Wexford penalty area and gave Muireann Devaney a glimpse of goal, but the danger was averted at the expense of a corner.
Cara King replaced Alice Lillie for Sligo Rovers at the interval and the Bit O’Red got back on level terms within a minute of the resumption when Kelly Crompton powered home a header.
However, parity lasted less than three minutes after some hesitant defending gave Wexford an opportunity and Ciara Rossiter capitalised to make it 2-1.
Sligo Rovers reacted positively and Keri Loughrey’s shot was saved by Jayne
Merren who also got down to save another Crompton header in the 63rd minute.
From the resultant clearance Wexford added a third goal when Rossiter once more finished well.
The Bit O’Red countered again, but Jodie Loughrey’s momentum was halted as Merren surged out of her penalty area and was deemed to have committed a yellow-card challenge,
Loughrey limped out of the action and the Wexford custodian was perhaps fortunate to avoid a red card?
Katie Melly replaced the unfortunate Loughrey, but despite the best efforts of the players for the remainder they couldn’t make any impact and conceded a fourth when Rossiter completed her hat-trick near the end.
Wexford – Jayne Merren; Abby Tuthill, Orlaith Conlon, Della Doherty, Kylie Murphy, Ellen Molloy, Ceola Bergin, Ciara Rossiter, Meabh Russell, Aoibheann Clancy, Aine Walsh.
Subs – Leah McGrath for Walsh 74 mins, Teegan Lynch for Clancy, Freya De Mange for Bergin and Mia Lenihan for Rossiter all 85m, Millie Daly for Conlon 90m.
Sligo Rovers – Amber Hardy,Alice Lillie, Sarah Kiernan, Kelsey Munroe, Keeva Flynn, Kelly Crompton, Muireann Devaney, Zoe McGlynn, Amy Roddy, Keri Loughrey, Jodie Loughrey.
Subs – Cara King for Lillie half-time, Katie Melly for J Loughrey 66 mins, Eimear Lafferty for Roddy 80m, Kate Nugent for K Loughrey, Leah Kelly for Crompton and Ciara Henry for McGlynn all 83m.