St: Oliver’s Community College, Drogheda 2/4 Wilson’s Hospital School, Multyfarnham (AET)
Favour Kinglsey (5), Beth Prendergast (33), Rachel Shaw, Chloe Fisher
A strong Wilson's squad travelled to Drogheda for this Division Two 2 League Quarter Final play/off yesterday (April 19) reports Gavan Kierans:
It was a tough competitive match but by the end of extra time the Westmeath squad showed that they had enough ability to get a result:
A good start saw Favour Kingsley get her first Wilson's goal when she broke through on the left of the penalty box and slipped a goal in after just five minutes on the clock:
Wilson's continued to attack: Rachel Shaw broke through and hit the crossbar with a cracker of a shot from the edge of the box minutes later:
First Year veteran Beth Prendergast volleyed in a top quality goal as half/time approached to leave the Wilson's girls in a good position:
However "Ollie's" came out fighting in the second half: A foul on an attacking Drogheda girl saw Oliver's pull a goal back: A direct free kick from about twenty yards out was strong and high: Keeper Kristina Franklin got a hand to the shot and pushed it onto the crossbar but the strike had enough power to cross the goal/line:
When a Wilson's defender later sought to protect herself from a shot and was deemed to handle the ball, the resulting penalty was always likely to be converted: Drogheda made no mistake with a wide, low hard strike: This balanced the match at two all as the final whistle approached:
EXTRA TIME
A penalty shoot/out looked likely as both sides fought for the first ten minutes of extra time:
Wilson's hit the post and it looked like it was not going to be the Multy girls day as the final ten minutes of extra time tipped off:
However Rachel Shaw had other ideas: A dazzling run from the half/way line saw her beat a number of Drogheda defender before firmly planting the ball in the Oliver's goal:
Another First Year veteran, Chloe Fisher, got injured with a minute to go: However she recovered from a kick in the chest to take advantage of a breaking ball outside the box: She struck first time and volleyed home her first ever Wilson's goal: Both sides were now spared the ordeal by penalties as the final whistle was heard:
It was a top quality, hard fought match but Wilson's were the better side overall on the day:
Wilson’s now advance onto the semi final stages where they will face Loreto College, Crumlin
WHS - K Franklin, H Harris, S Gibbons, D Brady (Captain) A Butler, A McCullagh, B Prendergast, R Shaw, C Fisher, Z Lipscombe, F Kingsley:
Subs used: H Dugdale for H Harris, A Graham for Z Lipscombe,
Subs not used: C Butler, M Puig, M Kane
Teacher: G Kierans
