Match Report: Blues 4 DLR Waves 2

Another week, another win and more history made. The start to the season has far exceeded expectation and given the Blues a great upon which to build. Lauren Walsh scored Waterford’s first ever home goals and Erin O’Brien netted twice in the final five minutes to give the team and supporters a deserved win.

Brimming with confidence from last week’s win, Waterford threatened within 20 seconds of the kickoff when Zara Corcoran whipped a dangerous low ball across the six-yard box. Chloe Atkinson retrieved it, but goalkeeper Eve Badana reacted quickly to grab her cutback. 

There weren’t many clearcut chances in the opening half hour, but the hosts were on top and playing some great attacking football. Corcoran had a shot stopped by some good defending from Nadine Raymond after Olivia Shannon had cleverly slipped her through. 

Lauren Walsh picked up a yellow card for handball and Aoibh Thomas hooked a clearance over the bar before DLR’s first real threat. That was a scramble in the penalty area which required not one, but two timely interventions by Shannon. Dan Burke was also forced into a textbook tackle in the box against Abbie Brophy who is always a real danger in attack. 

Despite the visitors growing into the game, Waterford’s opening goal was merited when it came in the 31st minute. Atkinson won a corner and delivered it into the area, but Shannon’s shot was blocked out for a second corner. Again, Atkinson clipped it in, only this time it was met by a powerful header from Lauren Walsh. Badana did extremely well to get her gloves to the ball, but the power was too much and the net still rippled. Waterford Women’s first ever home goal will be very satisfying for the coaching staff as the set-piece was executed perfectly. 

 

 

The Waves came close to equalising within three minutes when Michelle Doonan went through on goal, but Maeve Williams did brilliantly to rush out and dive at Doonan’s feet to save in the goalkeeper’s best action of the day. At the other end, Burke volleyed a shot towards goal which took a flick off a defender and Badana (Ireland’s back-up ‘keeper as recently as three years ago) did well to hold. 

Sadly, Burke’s next big moment was a good recovery tackle which left her on the ground in agony. It appeared to be a serious ankle injury and the defender from Cork had to be replaced by debutant Stephanie Dumevi. To make matters worse, DLR levelled on the stroke of half time when Rachel Doyle picked out a great finish low to the far corner. It was very harsh on Waterford not to lead at the break and the timing was the real issue after a long delay, an upsetting injury and the substitution immediately beforehand.

These are two well-matched teams and they cancelled each other out in the early part of the second half with neither side able to retain possession for long. Very little of note happened until the Blues retook the lead in the 59th minute when Walsh doubled her tally through sheer determination. Atkinson’s corner created mayhem in the penalty area and the defender managed to force the ball over the line in an almighty scramble. 

That set off a flurry of chances for Waterford. First, Meghan Carr’s cross almost went in off the crossbar. Then Atkinson had a vicious low cross blocked and a free kick saved by Badana at her near post. Sophie Slattery, who got through a power of work today, won a ball in the 66th minute and set Corcoran through for a great chance. She crossed low, but Mia Lenihan was blocked before she could really get her shot off properly. Atkinson whipped a free across goal which Shannon came agonisingly close to finishing, but then the game turned again. 

Just when it seemed the Blues were completely on top, they conceded another penalty out of nowhere. Atkinson miscued a clearance which Brophy reached a fraction of a second ahead of Walsh and the goalscoring hero caught her slightly late. Amber Cosgrove rifled the spot-kick home expertly, even though Williams came close to reaching it. It was tough to believe that the sides were level again after the Blues had come so close to sealing the win.

 

 

Gary Hunt reacted by sending Erin O’Brien on and she couldn’t have had a better impact. But it didn’t look to be Waterford’s day when Atkinson shot straight at the keeper at the end of a glorious move. Aoibh Thomas won the ball with excellent aggression and Chloe played a sublime one-two with Erin, whose reverse pass stumped the defence, but the chance went abegging.

The disappointment only lasted a minute as the home side got another chance and took it. Lenihan flicked a ball over the top and released both Shannon and O’Brien on goal. Olivia squared it, but Erin couldn’t make contact to finish to an empty net with her right foot leaving fans gasping. That only teased the Dubliners though as she smashed the ball to the net with her left. 

Back in front with five minutes on the clock, but it got even better when O’Brien intercepted a pass five yards inside the DLR half and two touches later the ball was in the back of the net. It was a beautifully-taken goal, finished from the edge of the box past the out-rushing goalkeeper. Erin knows how to celebrate too as she had the stand rocking for those two priceless late goals.

This was a thrilling win in front of a strong crowd of 621 and leaves the new Blues comfortably in mid-table in the early running. Two goals each for Walsh and O’Brien, but my Player of the Match would be Chloe Atkinson who was a joy to watch. She’s a real street baller with fabulous footwork and will get fans off their seats all season.

It's the international break next week so the Blues return on the 12th of April in a Munster derby away to Cork City. It’s a good chance to take a breath after a whirlwind beginning to the season. With back-to-back wins now, the Blues have already made a mark and can look forward to a very successful season.

Maeve Williams; Meghan Carr, Lauren Walsh, Dan Burke (Stephanie Dumevi, 44), Jess Lawler; Aoibh Thomas (Aoife Mulkern, 89), Sophie Slattery; Mia Lenihan, Olivia Shannon, Chloe Atkinson; Zara Corcoran (Erin O’Brien, 72)