Barden Blasts Blues to Big Win

It was a weekend of southeast derbies for the Waterford FC academy with all four men’s teams facing neighbours Wexford FC. The Blues came out on top with two wins, a draw and one defeat, while the girls added a win away in Kildare to make it a very successful weekend for the underage sides. 

The Waterford Under-20s had a strong 3-0 win in the sunshine of Saturday afternoon with Filip Wasilewski, Mason Murphy and Jan Wozniak scoring the goals at SETU Arena. The first big chance came when Peter Byrne fired narrowly wide after an excellent run down the left by Orion Cala. Then, Gavin Mitchell made a great clearance off the line to prevent Wexford taking the lead before the Blues hit the front through Filip Wasilewski in the 36th minute. Bobby Keohan (main picture, delivering a free kick) played a lovely ball to the ex-Wexford man, who ran through with power and pace and slotted to the right of goalkeeper Adam Hearne (who made several great saves for the visitors). 

Waterford deserved the lead at half-time, even though there wasn’t much between the teams and Wexford looked capable of a comeback. That was quickly stymied as Waterford doubled their lead within seconds of the restart when Wasilewski crossed from the left and Mason Murphy powered a header to the net. Wexford came back into the game and appeared set to reduce the deficit, but Igor Bacela made a great save with his feet. Aaron Cass drove a rasping shot over the crossbar with Eddie Nolan’s team making some nice passing moves with growing confidence and Keohan went close with a shot just wide.

 

Close control from Jack Garrett of the Under-20s

The Blues removed any doubt inside the last fifteen minutes when Keohan’s corner was met with a powerful header from substitute Jan Wozniak to make it three, although Bacela was forced into another excellent save later in the game.

It was a strong showing from Waterford with goalscorers Wasilewski and Murphy standing out for me. Filip, a former Polish U15 international, made seventeen appearances as a substitute plus one start for Stephen Elliott’s Wexford in last year’s First Division and showed his lightning speed today along with a very composed finish. Murphy has really grown into a quality player with the physical attributes to be a success. He led the line brilliantly and his movement was really good throughout. I was impressed with Daniel McGrath at the back for Wexford too, who has grown into a strong defender with a great left foot. 

Team: Igor Bacela; Gavin Mitchell, Matt Barrett, Noah O’Brien, Aaron Cass; Peter Byrne, Romeo Lapite; Filip Wasilewski, Bobby Keohan, Orion Cala; Mason Murphy. 
Subs used: Jack Garrett, Shayne McDonald, Jan Wozniak.
Unused: Jayden Maher, Aaron Brennan, Conor Dempsey, Alex Capocci.

 

The Under-17s celebrating their second goal with scorer Tiernan O'Brien (15)

Meanwhile, the Under-17s celebrated a terrific 2-0 win thanks to goals from Jack Barden and Tiernan O’Brien. The opening goal came in the 28th minute when the previously-unbeaten Wexford cleared a corner to the edge of the box only to see Barden meet the ball on the half-volley and thump an unstoppable shot to the net. It was a first goal at this level for the Under-15s full back and what a peach it was! The game remained intensely competitive until Waterford doubled their lead after 70 minutes. A long pass from goalkeeper Conor Murphy - excellent throughout - fell to Harry Farrell, who kept possession under pressure and found O’Brien, and the substitute slotted coolly past Luke Axinte to the far corner of the goal. It was good to see Julian Power back after a month out through injury too.

 

A late equaliser prevented the Under-15s from winning their derby match at Ferrycarrig Park on Saturday. Luke Driscoll had given Wexford a tenth-minute lead, but the Blues responded within a minute when Charlie Flynn levelled from a Danny Blake pass and Billy Carney put Waterford ahead on the stroke of half time. Wexford kept battling, however, and Eoin Reynolds made it 2-2 just two minutes from the end of the game. 

 

Rian Roche sends the keeper the wrong way from the spot for the Under-14s

 

Wexford came out on top in an absorbing, if at times scrappy, clash with the Under-14s that ended 3-2 at Ferrycarrig on Sunday. Keelan Kinsella opened the scoring for the home side before Jonathan Akaehomen drew the youngest Blues level in what was their first game on grass this year. A Nial Dignam strike and a second for Kinsella gave Wexford a commanding lead, but Waterford pulled one back late in the game when Rian Roche was fouled and scored the resulting penalty himself – sending the goalkeeper the wrong way with an assured finish to the bottom left corner.

 

Naas was the venue for the Under-17 girls’ 2-1 win against Klub Kildare on Saturday. The prolific Zoe O’Sullivan struck first for the Blues only to see Kildare draw level early in the second half through Morgan Kearney. The points went Waterford’s way, however, when ex-Cahir Park schoolgirl Lexie Ferris held her nerve to bury a penalty kick in injury time to earn a very pleasing victory.