A comprehensive win for Wexford FC Women over Sligo Rovers at Ferrycarrig last night, Ciara Rossiter scoring a second half hat-trick to add to Ellen Molloy’s first half goal. The win sees Wexford jump up to 8th in the table with a game in hand on five sides above them.
The game saw the return of Kylie Murphy to the starting line up, the captain missing last weeks game through suspension.
After a quiet opening the game exploded into life in the 17th minute, Ceola Bergin setting Molloy through on the goal, the nineteen year old rounding the keeper and finding the net with a left foot finish.
Wexford should have doubled their lead in the 27th minute but Murphy was unable to direct her free header on target. Áine Walsh also had another decent chance but her chipped effort cleared the crossbar.
Sligo rarely troubled the Wexford goal in the first half, Muireann Devaney’s right foot shot deflected wide in the 28th minute the closest they came to scoring. Wexford 1-0 up at the break.
Rovers had the perfect start to the second half however when Kelly Crompton headed in from close range with a minute barely gone. Wexford regained their lead five minutes later when Ciara Rossiter volleyed past Amber Hardy.
Two important saves from Jayne Merren kept the hosts lead intact, first the Ireland U19 keeper tipped away a hooked shot from Jodie Loughrey and then dived low to her right to deny Crompton a second headed goal.
Nerves were steadied in the 65th minute however when Rossiter fired in her second goal of the day, Murphy with a tidy assist. Bergin almost made it four in the 75th minute but Hardy saved her powerful right foot shot at the near post.
The keeper couldn’t do anything about Rossiter’s third goal in the 83rd minute, the Wexford native with another first time volley, this time scoring with her right foot, Bergin providing the cross.
Leah McGrath came close to scoring her first senior goal in the 90th minute but the 16 year olds shot was too high, the game ending on a 4-1 scoreline in favour of the hosts.
Wexford FC Women: Merren, Tuthill, Russell, Conlon (Daly 91′), Doherty, Rossiter (Lynch 86′), Clancy (Lenihan 86′), Murphy (c), Molloy, Bergin (De Mange 86′), Walsh (McGrath 71′).
Subs Not used: Williams, Nix, Sinnott
Sligo Rovers Women: Hardy, Munroe, Flynn, Crompton (Nugent 86′), Devaney (c), McGlynn (Henry 86′), Roddy (Lafferty 81′), K Loughrey (Kelly 86′), J Loughrey (Melly 72′), Kiernan, Lillie (King 46′)
Subs Not Used: McKiernan
