Hansberry features for Youths
WEXFORD YOUTHS AJAX 1 4
UEFA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFIER
WEXFORD Youths were defeated in UWCL as a Rianna Jarrett header sparks Ajax comeback in Seaview, Belfast.
Sligo’s Emma Hansberry was an integral part of the Youths side with a crucial free-kick towards Jarrett for their goal.
Wexford Youths will have to rely on results elsewhere to go their way.
Ireland striker Jarrett had headed Youths into the lead in the first minute of the second half but the lead lasted just two minutes as Kay-Lee de Sanders restored parity.
Ellen Jensen, Lois Oudemast and Liza van der Most added to the tally as the Dutch champions’ professional status told against their amateur opponents.
A tentative opening from both sides yielded few in the way of clear chances, though the Dutch predictably dominated possession in spite of lacking a cutting edge. A lapse from the Youths rearguard allowed Soraya Verhoeve pull back to Marthe Munsterman for what would have been a tap-in only for Orlaith Conlon to nick it away.
Wexford had a half-chance of their own when long-range specialist Hansberry was played down the line by Aisling Frawley and her audacious first-time volley had Marieke Ubachs worried. The second half saw a shift in tempo and Wexford hit the front when Hansberry’s world-class free kick was met by the head of Jarrett and she sent the ball arrowing into the corner.
Disappointingly, Youths conceded a soft goal within two minutes as de Sanders had a free header from the corner that trickled into the bottom corner past a host of defenders. The turnaround was complete four minutes later as a beautifully-weighted diagonal ball from Soraya Verhoeve found the head of Ellen Jansen, who glanced the ball into the far corner.
Captain Oudermast added the third goal with 23 minutes remaining after good work down the right from Verhoeve, before a fluke from van der Most added a fortunate gloss to the scoreline.
At the time of going to print, the Youths were leading Linfield by 2-0 in Seaview, Hansberry once again playing well for the Youths.
WEXFORD YOUTHS: Ciamh Dollard; Nicola Sinnott, Orlaith Conlon, Lauren Dwyer, Doireann Fahey; Edel Kennedy, Kylie Murphy (Orla Casey 70), Emma Hansberry; Aisling Frawley (McKenna Davidson 81), Katrina Parrock (Becky Conroy 60), Rianna Jarrett.
AJAX: Marieke Ubachs; Liza van der Most, Kay-Lee de Sanders, Line Roddik, Kika von Es; Lois Oudemast (Iina Salmi 70), Kelly Zeeman, Marthe Munsterman; Soraya Verhoeve (Kirsten van der Westeringh 82), Vanity Lewerissa (Eshly Bakker 66), Ellen Jansen.
REFEREE: Maria Marotta (Italy).
WEXFORD HIT THE FRONT WHEN HANSBERRY’S WORLD-CLASS FREE KICK WAS MET BY THE HEAD OF JARRETT.