Bit O’Red women THEGAME are still looking for a first win of 2024
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LIGO Rovers senior women’s team continue their search for a first win of the season after succumbing to a 4-1 defeat on the road to Wexford FC last Saturday at Ferrycarrig Park.
Kelly Crompton scored Rovers’ only goal in an SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division game that ran away from them in the second-half as the impressive Ciara Rossiter scored a hat-trick after Ellen Molloy opened the scoring for the hosts.
Three changes were made from the Rovers side beaten 1-0 at home by Cork City the previous week as Sarah Kiernan, Alice Lillie and Amy Roddy came in for Eimear Lafferty, Emma Hansberry and Paula McGrory.
Jodie Loughrey deputised in leading the line as manager Tommy Hewitt was forced to plan without a natural striker due to injuries to Emma Doherty and Paula McGrory.
Rovers won a corner inside the opening minute and caused a goalmouth scramble which Wexford eventually survived.
Both teams concentrated much of their play out wide in the early exchanges, with Keri Loughrey and Alice Lillie busy on their respective wings for the Bit O’Red both in attack and in defence.
Despite Rovers’ bright start, Wexford took the lead on 15 minutes when a neat passage of play allowed Ceola Bergin to play Ellen Molloy through on goal. She took a touch to take the ball around Amber
Hardy before finishing into an empty net. Rovers found themselves struggling to cope with relentless pressure from Wexford who were creating half chances.
One counterattack almost had Rovers right back in the game. Excellent play from Keri Loughrey saw her get into the box and square a ball for Muireann Devaney whose effort almost certainly would have found the bottom left corner only for a timely interception by a Wexford defender.
The game soon settled down into an even contest again, but Rovers were having to do a lot more work out of possession while Wexford struggled to convert their possession into a clearcut chance to extend their lead before the half-time break.
Rovers had a dream start to the second-half when a free-kick from Sarah Kiernan floated all the way to the back post for Kelly Crompton who applied the finish with a fine header to get the visitors back level.
This joy was short-lived, however, as within three minutes Wexford were ahead when Ceola Bergin and Ciara Rossiter combined before Rossiter – ever the thorn in
The number of goals scored by Rovers in five SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division games.
Rovers side – finished on the volley.
Rovers responded well through Keri Loughrey, who tried to find the back of the net with a volley of her own but it was well saved by Jayne Merren.
In the 63rd minute the visitors almost scored an identical goal to their first when Sarah Kiernan’s free-kick from the left again found Kelly Crompton in space, but her headed effort was saved on this occasion.
Wexford attacked on the counterattack and punished Rovers when Ciara Rossiter broke through one-on-one with Amber Hardy and finished with aplomb to further extend Wexford’s lead.
The result was put beyond all doubt seven minutes from time when the deadly duo struck again as Ceola Bergin crossed to Ciara Rossiter for another first-time finish to complete her hat-trick.
Rovers, without a win in five SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division games as well as in their two games in the Avenir Sports Women’s All-Island Cup, are at The Showgrounds this coming Saturday for a Women’s Premier Division fixture against Bohemians (kick-off 7pm).
Dublin outfit Bohemians are seventh in the
BEST FOR ROVERS: Keri Loughrey. The winger consistently impressed on a difficult day for Rovers – she was the visitors’ main attacking outlet and caused plenty of headaches for Wexford’s defence at Ferrycarrig Park. TURNING POINT: A missed goal opportunity. Goalscorer Kelly Crompton’s chance to double her tally immediately before Wexford scored their third goal was the ‘what might have been’ moment as the Bit O’Red were well in this contest before Wexford opened up a two-goal lead.
standings – three places better off than second from bottom Rovers. They have two losses and four defeats so far and their most recent game was last weekend’s 1-0 away loss to second-placed Shelbourne, who are four points behind leaders Galway United.
Amber Hardy, Amy Roddy (Eimear Lafferty 81), Kelsey Munroe, Keeva Flynn, Sarah Kiernan, Alice Lillie
(Cara King 46), Muireann Devaney, Kelly Crompton (Kate Nugent 86), Zoe McGlynn (Ciara Henry 86), Keri Loughrey (Leah Kelly 86), Jodie Loughrey (Katie Melly 72)
Sub not used: Bonnie McKiernan (gk)
WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION
P W D L F A Diff 6 5 1 0 18 2 +16 6 3 3 0 5 1 +4 5 3 1 1 8 4 +4 6 3 1 2 6 5 +1 5 2 2 1 8 4 +4 6 2 1 3 3 11 -8 6 2 0 4 4 8 -4 5 1 1 3 5 6 -1 5 0 4 1 4 6 -2 5 0 2 3 3 8 -5 5 0 2 3 2 11 -9
Galway Utd Shelbourne Athlone Town Peamount Utd Treaty Utd
Cork City Bohemians Wexford FC Shamrock Rvrs Sligo Rovers DLR Waves
Pts 16 12 10 10 8 7 6 4 4 2 2