Magnificent Seven for Soaring Twenties

Two newcomers to Waterford FC’s academy scored hat-tricks in excellent wins at the weekend with Filip Wasilewski (pictured above) and Louis McDonald in red-hot form for the Under-20s and Under-14s respectively.

Wasilewski’s feat came in a 7-1 trouncing of Wexford in Ferrycarrig Park that consolidates Waterford’s lead at the top of Tier Two (South). That’s now three strong wins in a row for Eddie Nolan’s U-20s with sixteen scored and only one goal conceded. The hosts actually took the lead through Darragh Buttle after three minutes, but Wasilewski – who joined from Wexford at the beginning of the season – equalised soon after when he finished at the back post following terrific work from Fidel Pululu.

It remained one-all at half time, but the second half was very different with Waterford completely dominant and creating chance after chance. Pululu gave the Blues the lead within two minutes of the restart with a neat finish at the far post. The speedy Wasilewski, then, completed his hat-trick with goals in the 54th and 67th minutes – a stunning free kick and a brilliant individual goal when he dribbled past numerous defenders before placing the ball into the bottom corner.

Waterford added three more goals in the final ten minutes with defender Matt Barrett scoring for the third time in four matches with a powerful header from a corner. Next, it was Pululu netting his second of the day when he rounded the goalkeeper. Substitute Julian Power completed the rout in stoppage time with a tremendous strike from outside the box for his first U20s goal.

 

Hat-trick hero Louis McDonald

Louis McDonald has had a big impact since joining the Under-14s from Tramore AFC in the summer and he bagged his first hat-trick in a great 3-2 win against CK United on Sunday. McDonald twice put the Blues in front – either side of an Eoin Dowling equaliser - with Fionn Fell assisting on both occasions. The result was in the balance until McDonald seized upon a Rian Roche pass in the final minutes and wrapped up his hat-trick with Dowling scoring his second for United with the last kick of the game.

The Under-17 girls team also beat CK United at SETU Arena to stay in third position in the Tier Two table with a final score of 2-1. Captain Jodie Roche broke the deadlock after 17 minutes when she finished a pass from Megan O’Regan. Sophie Whittle, who made her Under-23s debut on Sunday, set Laura Beresford up to score the second after 32 minutes and the Blues held  the lead comfortably despite a 92nd-minute consolation goal by Orla Sutton for United. Beresford was terrific throughout in defence while Libby Rossiter stood out as a calming influence in midfield.

 

Ireland U16 international Ronan Sullivan had a fine game in goal against Rovers

The aforementioned Under-23s secured their eighth win of the new Women’s Development League when they beat Bray Wanderers 1-0 at the Carlisle Grounds on Sunday. A very competitive match was decided by a goal from Sarah Abullo with just 18 minutes left on the clock. Congratulations to team captain Abbie Gaffney on her first call-up to the women’s team squad at the weekend for the defeat to Shelbourne.

There was no luck for the Under-17 boys on Sunday when they lost 4-0 away to Galway United, but well done to the five U15 players who were involved. Galway remain unbeaten at the top of Tier Two with the Blues in third.

The Under-15s, themselves, came out on the wrong side of a late flurry of goals in their Tier One game at home to Shamrock Rovers on Saturday. The clash stayed scoreless heading into the final quarter of an hour with Waterford goalkeeper Ronan Sullivan making some very good saves. It was the visitors who eventually made the breakthrough from the impressive Fionn McCormack Crowe and Luke Hollingsworth doubled their advantage in the 82nd minute. Nathan Power, however, gave Xander Coolbear’s Blues hope three minutes later with a crisp strike from a Billy Carney pass, but they couldn’t quite find that precious equaliser.