Meikayla Moore – Glasgow City (Scottish Premier League)

The Meikayla Moore Resurgence continued into Champions League qualifiers this week... and will continue into more Champions League qualifiers in a few more weeks. Glasgow City dipped over to Lithuania for the first round of UCLW preliminaries and with Moore at the heart of their defence they did not concede a goal. Two wins from two. The Glaswegians march onwards.

Their round one semi-final was against Shelbourne of Ireland and, despite GCFC getting out on the front foot, the Irish side proved tough to break down. Kinga Kozak hit the crossbar while there were several blocked shots and a couple of very good saves as the game remained even at half-time. But then Brenna Lovera went on a run and poked in the goal that broke the deadlock on 54’ and ten minutes later Lauren Davidson doubled the advantage from a narrow angle to put her team into the next round. Shelbourne’s defensive mahi was immense but they didn’t ever look like scoring. Comfortable ninety minutes for Moore at the back, to be fair.

In their group’s other semi, mini-tournament hosts Gintra (Lithuania) won 2-0 against Cardiff City (Wales) so that was who they met in the final, with a spot in the second and final qualifying round on the line. They were the two expected teams to progress from those semis, if we’re being honest, but that didn’t meant that Glasgow had any real idea how their standard would match up against Gintra’s. These UCL prelims are always a bit of a shot in the dark. Just gotta turn up and give it your best shot from the opening whistle, right?

Yeah and scoring inside the first minute definitely helps too. Glasgow City named an unchanged XI for the Gintra game three days later and within 45 seconds they’d already scored as Corri Sullivan whipped in a low cross from the left wing and Brenna Lovera stuck out a guiding toe for 1-0. Gintra did seem to have more of a threat about them than Shelbourne had but GCFC were experts at winning that ball back and they always looked like they had further goals in them. 29th minute of the match, in came a Maddie Fulton corner kick and, although it fizzed just over Moore’s head, Kenzie Weir, the other centre-back, was there to head it home for two.

Gintra went close from a free kick and had a goal disallowed for offside. But then Lauren Davidson scored a third as her shot from the edge of the box snuck in under the goalie and that was that. City were unlucky not to score a fourth but 3-0 was more than enough to send them through. Another ninety minutes for Moore and now the Champions League group stages are just two games away.

As to whether they can take it even further, lots will depend on the draw that they get. Good news there is that their UEFA coefficient is pretty strong, the fourth best of the teams in their section of the draw, so they will be a seeded team. Thus their possible opponents are: Ajax (Netherlands), Spartak Subotica (Serbia), Vorskla (Ukraine), Apollon (Cyprus), Valur (Iceland), Olimpia Cluj (Romania) or SK Brann (Norway).

Meanwhile Shelbourne won 3-0 against Cardiff City in the classification game, in case you were wondering.

Up Next: Two SWPL matches, away to Hamilton at 7am on Thursday and then home to Dundee United at midnight on Sunday/Monday (NZT)

Indiah-Paige Riley - PSV Eindhoven (Dutch Eredivisie)

Well that didn’t take long...

Indi Riley only needed three minutes to score on debut for PSV, getting amongst the action in a 5-0 win over Telstar to get the new season underway. She also scored in her first game for Brisbane Roar last season so this is a bit of a habit with her. Still awaiting that first international goal but the way she’s been tracking that’s surely only a matter of time.

This game wasn’t as one-sided as it appears. PSV scored early through Joelle Smits after 11 mins but it was still only 1-0 at the break and Telstar did have two big chances that they struck into the side-netting, before making a mess of a 1v1 about 80 seconds into the second half. It was still only 1-0 when IPR was subbed on with half an hour to go and, to be frank, they could have been trailing.

Then Riley scored to ease any worries and PSV romped home from there, scoring three times in the final ten minutes to make things look much more comfortable than they really were. Riley played as a left-winger. Gwyneth Hendriks (84’), Chimera Ripa (86’), and Nina Nijsted (88’) got the other goals. Happy days.

Up Next: Away to ADO Den Hag at 5.30am on Saturday (NZT)

Katie Bowen - Inter Milan (Italian Serie A)

Over the course of all three games you could make a very strong case that Katie Bowen was New Zealand’s best performer at the 2023 FIFA World Cup. For someone who only in the past few years began playing as a central defender there she was dishing up world class showings on all three occasions. This was after an impressive season at Melbourne City in the A-League where her distribution from defence ranked amongst the very top players in that competition (although she did finish the term in her preferred position of central midfield after a formation change).

Now she’s signed with Inter Milan. A huge move off the back of a strong World Cup, absolutely deserved and exactly what we want to see from one of our current Football Ferns icons. Bowen spent a long time playing in the NWSL in the USA prior to her Aussie stint but this will be her first time in Europe, which was clearly a motivating factor for this move. She’ll become the second New Zealander to play in the Serie A Femminile following on from Katie Rood at Juventus a few years back. Current U19s forward Kiara Bercelli is also on the youth team books of Sampdoria at the moment while of course Liberato Cacace is the only kiwi bloke to have played in the men’s Serie A.

The Italian league is a little behind the growth of the other major ones in Europe. We’re talking about England, Spain, Germany, and France here. That’s because their main men’s clubs were slower to get on board although the founding of a Juventus women’s team in 2017 soon set things on their inevitable way. Juve proceeded to win five titles in a row although Roma broke the streak last term. Internazionale’s team began in 2018 in the second division but were promoted at the first attempt and have since finished seventh, eighth, fifth, and then fifth again in the top tier. They were third when Serie A broke into the championship rounds last time but then faltered to drop a couple spots. They did have the division’s top scorer in Tabitha Chawinga though.

So yeah all those trophies she’s standing in front of? They didn’t win those. At least not yet. Presumably those are titles earned by the fellas but they do make for a pretty backdrop and with Katie Bowen on board they’ll be hoping for a record finish in 2023-24. Bowen has signed a one-year contract with an option for a second season. Molto bene. Prendiamo questo pane.

Up Next: First game of the season, away to Sampdoria on Monday at 4am (NZT)

Abby Erceg – Racing Louisville (American National Women’s Soccer League)

Challenge Cup semi-final, anyone? Racing Louisville had never played a knockout game before in its short history prior to this game... where they met one of the most storied clubs in the land in the form of OL Reign. That made this a special occasion no matter what happened. But no team with Abby Erceg is ever going to settle for merely turning up. Erceg won the Challenge Cup last year with a North Carolina team that didn’t even qualify for the NWSL playoffs, while Louisville got this far thanks to taking the group stage seriously instead of resting their top players as many other teams did. They were in it to win it.

Kicking off on a Wednesday night, with no extra time in place by the way (straight to pens if necessary), Louisville did what they always did and picked their best available team, minus a few injuries. However the Reign mixed it up with some depth players. The Reign have more depth than anyone else in the NWSL but perhaps that strategy had something to do with the only clear open chance of the first half: when a defensive free kick was passed straight to RL’s Kirsten Davis who took a touch, shook her marker, and slammed home to given Racing the 28th minute lead. Incredibly it was the first goal that the Reign have conceded in the Challenge Cup this year.

The Reign otherwise had more of the ball and more of the attacking moments but found it hard to break a strong RL defensive line with Erceg supplying several clearances and blocks. That 1-0 lead remained into the break and continued afterwards... although very tentatively as OL Reign were definitely running the play whereas Louisville were limited to occasional counter attacks. There was a scary moment on 57’ when a penalty was awarded to OLR however the contact had been outside the area and the video ref soon fixed that problem.

On came Emily Sonnett and Jordan Huitema for OLR. On came Megan Rapinoe and Jess Fishlock too. Erceg and company made block after block after block. Huitema missed a couple of decent chances. The margin for error was as slim as it gets but Louisville have shown plenty of grit lately. And that grit carried them through to their first ever trophy game. A 1-0 victory against the OL Reign. Erceg was magnificent as part of that heroic defensive effort.

There were no NWSL games this weekend as this portion of the calendar was dedicated as standalone Challenge Cup dates. Two semi-finals in the midweek then the final itself on the weekend. Racing Louisville were there. And their opponents? Defending champions North Carolina Courage, who beat Kansas City Current 1-0 in their semi. Yup, Erceg up against her old team.

Erceg won three NWSL titles and a Challenge Cup with North Carolina but sadly she wasn’t able to win one against them. The pace of Kerolin was a bit much to handle and the Brazilian should have opened the scoring for NCC in the sixth minute but for a poor finish and a good save from Katie Lund. Crisis averted there... but they couldn’t avert the weather. Storm clouds raged and when a bit of lighting struck in the surrounding areas they decided to pause the game after ten minutes of action. It was more than an hour before the game got back underway. Captain Erceg got to walk her team out twice in the same game.

Ten minutes wasn’t enough to get an idea of the flow of the game so it’d be harsh to say that Louisville dropped off after the break. Perhaps it went the way it always would have. But the Courage were really good. Manaka Matsukobo lashed one off the inside of the post in the 18th minute before Kerolin dashed through again and slammed in the opening goal from a tough angle on 28’. Lund has been massive for RL in goal all season but she got her angles wrong there.

Louisville kept it at ones for the rest of the half but it was hard to see how they were going to score. So when Manaka scored a brilliant volley on 54’ well that spelled doom. Racing did go close through Ary Borges with about quarter of an hour left but that was saved and that was also their only shot on target all match. They went on to lose 2-0.

No shame after a fantastic run to the final. Just weren’t as good on the day. Erceg misses out on another trophy but she did at least grab another personal accolade after being announced in the NWSL Challenge Cup All-Tournament Team... for the second year in a row.

NWSL: Abby Erceg (LOU): The veteran Erceg displayed her versatility as a playmaker and defender, recording two blocks and seven interceptions and completing 273 passes across five games played.

Now the task becomes to channel this momentum into their run at trying to make the NWSL playoffs. They’re two points out of the top six with four games remaining. They’re also only six points off first – that’s how close the table is. The entire span of 12 teams is separated by only 11 points after 18 matches each. Three of RL’s last four games are against teams below them on the ladder.

Up Next: Saturday at 11.30am, RL vs Houston Dash (NZT)

Jamie Searle – Forest Green Rovers (English League Two)

Every couple weeks there’s a different kiwi goalkeeper putting on a clinic of shot-stopping and this week it was Jamie Searle’s turn...

This was EFL Trophy action, the lower league cup competition, the first gameweek of the group stage. FGR are in a group with Shrewsbury Town, Brighton U21s, and Walsall. Searle made his club debut a few weeks back in a 3-1 defeat against Portsmouth in the League Cup where he played alright but did make one semi-error leading to a goal when he wasn’t as commanding against an aerial ball as he should’ve been. This second appearance was an entirely different story. Debut nerves gone, Searle was excellent as Forest Green punished Shrewsbury Town 3-0.

First half it had been the Shrews who’d had a little better of things – a Shrewsbury team that also had Max Mata making his starting debut for the team. Mata operated as one of two strikers which gave him licence to drop a little deeper and try link up. His aerial threat was also a factor. There was one really clear chance of his own, with an angled run into the area and a snapshot back across goal but Searle parried that one away to safety. MM did have a few other shots but they weren’t of the same calibre.

Mata may not have had bundles but his wider team had plenty of attacking opportunities (some of which Mata was involved in the build up for). Unfortunately for them old mate Jamie Searle was in top form. FGR then bagged a goal somewhat against the run of play through Dylan Kadji on 36’ before two goals in the space of five second half minutes (Tyrese Omotoye 61’ & Mathew Stevens 65’) clinched it for Rovers. Mata was subbed in between the second and third goals.

Only thing that remained was for Rovers to keep that clean sheet and really emphasise Searle’s impressive match. That quest took a nudge off course when they conceded a late penalty for a clumsy charge by a fullback... but when it’s your day, it’s your day. Jamie Searle dove the right way and palmed Ryan Bowman’s effort wide. Forest Green Rovers won 3-0. Jamie Searle got man of the match. Definitely take a peek at the highlights here because once the extended cut emerged it turns out there were even more top stops from the big fella.

Shrewsbury Town had 10 shots on target (23 overall) and scored zero goals. They had 55% of possession too... but Searle made seven saves including one from a penalty. What do ya reckon, Jamie?

It was then back to the bench for the League Two defeat to Crew Alexandra as FGR got beaten 4-1. Not a game to recall fondly. Searle is the backup goalie so he’s not gonna be playing those ones unless something drastic happens but he should get regular cup efforts thanks to the EFL Trophy and he definitely put his best case forward with that Shrews game. Hopefully Max Mata did similar for the opposition.

Up Next: FGR vs Doncaster Rovers at 2am on Sunday (NZT)

Matt Dibley-Dias - Fulham (English Premier League)

After making it onto the bench for two Premier League games last season, after making cameos in all three games of the club’s preseason USA tour, after again making a matchday squad for the first game of the season, after captaining the U21s several times since... there’s no doubt that Matt Dibley-Dias is held in high regard at Fulham. Those opportunities don’t keep coming around unless that’s the case. Now to prove it they’ve given him a brand new contract which’ll keep him at the club until 2027.

MDD: “It’s an honour to extend my stay here. It’s been a long journey with ups and downs but I’m really happy to be here for another four years. Since joining from Brentford I’ve felt as if I’m at home here, because I’ve been here for a large part of my life now so it feels good to continue my journey at Fulham. There were a lot of factors and thoughts put into the decision. I was shown a plan for the next steps in my career and I feel like for my development this is the best place to be, so now I just want to kick on.”

Next step from here is to make that first team debut. It’ll probably require a few injuries or suspensions to clear the path for him but those things do happen over the course of a long season. You’d be forgiven for feeling very optimistic about his prospects. After that, with his long term future secure, hopefully the 2024 Olympic Games beckon if he can be convinced to represent the nation of his birth. But hey no pressure.

Also gotta throw a shout out the way of Marley Leuluai who at 16 years of age and only months after joining the club has already made his competitive debut for Burnley’s U21 team (having featured for them in a preseason friendly as well)...

Up Next: Keep doing what they’ve been doing, basically

Claudia Bunge & Daisy Cleverley - HB Køge (Danish Kvindeliga)

Meikayla Moore wasn’t the only kiwi out there battling in the Champions League qualiifers. There was also Betsy Hassett at Stjarnan, plus these two right here: Claudia Bunge and Daisy Cleverley at HBK. Bunge had made her club debut a week earlier. Cleverley, apparently dealing with a knee issue, had been getting some decent game time lately which was promising after she couldn’t take part in this stage a year ago due to injury. Their opponents were Finland’s finest KuPS so Jacqui Hand could’ve given them a few scouting tips.

Køge had the added advantage of hosting their mini-tournament. The host countries were in charge of broadcasting for each of these mini-tourneys so it’s all a bit of a crapshoot with what’s available. Here they chucked it all behind a paywall so yeah. Not ideal. But by all accounts, HBK began really sharply. With Bunge in defence (but Cleverley not even on the bench – blame that knee) they bossed the opening stages with high possession and some decent chances. KuPS did manage to hold them out at first however that resistance only lasted until the 30th minute when Cecilie Fløe scored for HBK. Except that was about where this one peaked for the Danish club.

KuPS responded with a pair of half-time substitutions and within three minutes of the restart they’d equalised through Lavdie Begolli – who’d been one of the HT subs. From there it was KuPS who were the brighter, more assertive team. A concerning flip in proceedings. It ended up with HBK clinging on for extra time and, alas, they didn’t make it. The other HT sub, the unfortunately-named American defender Hannah Sharts, popped up to score from a corner kick in the third-minute of stoppage time and thus HBK were dumped out with a 2-1 defeat.

Disappointing for a side that had made the UCL group stage two years ago (where they lost all six games against Barcelona, Arsenal, and Hoffenheim). Last season they were beaten by Juventus in the second round of qualifying. Therefore this was easily their worst showing in the three years that they’ve been qualifying for this stuff.

Happily, they did bounce back with a 3-1 win over KÍ (Faroe Islands) in their consolation game. Bunge played the first half before being subbed with her team already up 3-0, one of two HT changes. No need to drive a new signing into the ground. They did blow the clean sheet with half an hour to go but the win wasn’t ever under threat. Only pity there was that Daisy Cleverley wasn’t one of the subs who got a run. She did return to the bench but they used this opportunity to blood a few youngsters instead, so it goes. Ah well, no Champions League for HBK, back to the Kvindeliga to try and win a fourth title in a row so they can try again next year.

Up Next: HBK vs Kolding at 1am on Sunday (NZT)

Betsy Hassett - Stjarnan (Icelandic Besta Deild)

As for Betsy Hassett and Stjarnan, well the writing was on the wall when they drew Spanish club Levante in the their group. The Stars were in the ‘happy to be there’ category as rank outsiders against a team that finished third in the Liga F last term – behind only Barcelona and Real Madrid... and Barcelona of course won the Champions League that term.

Needless to say they lost... but they did keep the Spaniards at bay for the first half of the game. Still 0-0 at the break with Hassett doing her thing on the left wing. But then Levante scored early in the second spell and went on to win the thing 4-0 with Gabi Nunes scoring three (48’, 61’, 89’) while World Cup winner Alba Redondo (79’) pocketed the other. Levante had 25 shots compared to only 3 for Stjarnan. Although guts to Levante because they then went on to lose 3-2 to FC Twente in a thriller and thus got eliminated too.

Hassett played 78 minutes in that match. She played 120 in their consolation game. That was against Sturm Graz of Austria and this was a much more evenly matched tie, in fact it was Stjarnan who had the edge in the shot stats. Can’t say much more because it doesn’t appear to have been televised but the game ended 0-0 after extra time and therefore went to a (meaningless) penalty shootout. But you might as well still try win and that’s what the Stars did. A 7-6 spot kick victory with Hassett taking and scoring their sixth attempt.

Not the ideal Champions League excursion but that was never likely. Other than the second half against Levante there were plenty of positives to take from all that, including a couple of starts for Betsy Hassett, and now the task turns towards trying to qualify for this stage again next year.

Up Next: Stjarnan vs Valur on Friday at 7.15am (NZT)

Malia Steinmetz – FC Nordsjælland / Ally Green - AGF (Danish Kvindeliga)

Malia Steinmetz almost got to make her FCN debut against Claudia Bunge and Daisy Cleverley last week. That match came a little too soon for her... so instead she debuted against Ally Green. It was a Kvindeliga meeting between Nordsjælland and AGF and both of the Football Ferns in question started for their respective teams. Green got to celebrate first as her team took a 34th minute lead via a beauty of a long strike from Sarah Hansen, although Emilia Asgeirsdottir would tie things up with ten to play for a 1-1 draw.

Steinmetz played midfield, Green played left-back. Steinmetz only played the first half - she’s not only settling into a new club but she also hadn’t played since the World Cup so that’s understandable. Hopefully no injury niggles to worry about. Both Green, who played ninety here, and Steinmetz have been named in the latest Ferns squad.

Up Next: Aalborg vs FCN on Sunday at 11pm, Thy-Thisted Q vs AGF on Sunday at 1am (NZT)

Vic Esson - Rangers FC (Scottish Premier League)

It wasn’t ideal when Vic Esson conceded a long range screamer after only thirty seconds of their match against Dundee United. It was a belter of a goal from Keira Chuter that very few goalies in the world would have gotten close to but Esson’s in a battle for the starter’s gig here and clean sheets are her currency.

But RFC soon caught their balance again and after the first thirty seconds it was all smooth sailing. You don’t even glimpse Esson again on the almost-eight-minute highlight compilation above – she did make at least one save on the arvo it just wasn’t anything difficult enough to merit inclusion. Rangers completely annihilated Dundee to the tune of 8-1 to move clear top of the ladder... thanks to Celtic and Glasgow City missing games due to Champions League commitments. Good to see VE get back to back starts. Remains to be seen whether their new manager will rotate the goalies as happened last year or whether she’ll prefer one over the other so these are fortuitous signs.

Up Next: Motherwell at home on Thursday at 7am, then Montrose away on Sunday/Monday at midnight (NZT)

Grace Neville & Paige Satchell - London City Lionesses (England Championship)

Grace Neville held things down for the Lionesses in their first couple of games. There was a 0-0 draw against Sunderland then there was a 3-2 win over Watford. Tidy beginnings... but no sign of Paige Satchell yet. That would come in their third game, against Reading, with Satch thrown straight into the starting team on the right wing in front of Neville at right back. Just what we wanna see (although Satchell did swap sides a bit).

There was some good stuff in there too. We had Satchell using her strength and tenacity to keep attacks alive. We had Neville taking corner kicks and getting forward. LCL were pretty good in that first half and eventually got their reward as Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah was able to whip one home at the second attempt just before the break. No less than they deserved... yet they didn’t manage to kill the game off. Neville went as close as anyone in the second spell with a long shot that was absolutely fizzing in but the keeper managed to reach back and tip it over. Satchell was subbed with twenty to go. Then Reading equalised in the sixth minute of stoppage time. Big drama. Spinning half-volley from the perimeter.

1-1 final score. Very much two points dropped from the Lionesses... but they’re still undefeated with five points from three games and now Paige Satchell is good to go so this is merely the beginning for them. Lovely to see Grace Neville looking sharp too – she’s even been rewarded with a recall to the Footy Ferns for the Chile tour. Still haven’t seen Olivia Page (Sheffield United) or Ashleigh Ward (Southampton) in a matchday squad yet this Championship season so those are the next steps.

Up Next: Durham vs LCL at 11pm on Sunday (NZT)

Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)

It’s not as cool as goalkeeper Max Tommy scoring a 90+8th minute equaliser in the Chatham Cup final... but Minnesota United’s goalie Dayne St Clair did set up an injury time leveller for the Loons this week. Good from him. That was a 1-1 draw against New England Revolution, with another tidy defensive effort from Michael Boxall. Key thing there is that Minnesota keeps tallying up the points as they seek to hold their current position within the playoff picture. Seven games remain in their MLS regular season and it feels like Minnesota are grinding out some of their toughest footy all season. They’re seven games undefeated in the league right now.

Up Next: Minnesota Utd vs Sporting KC at 12.30pm on Sunday (NZT)

Nik Tzanev – AFC Wimbledon (English League Two)

EFL Trophy action also meant another chance for Nik Tzanev, who turned in a strong performance in a 1-1 draw against Stevenage... which also included a penalty shootout for a possible bonus point. That shootout went the way of the Dons and it did so because, after both teams had scored all of their initial five attempts, Tzanev was able to make the crucial first save on the way to a 6-5 shootout victory. He almost saved the penalty that Stevenage scored from in regular time too (which to be fair was conceded after a risky split pass from Tans himself at the back).

Then with Tzanev then back on the pines, AFCW lost 2-1 to Stockport for their first defeat of the League Two season. Four of their seven games have ended in draws though so they’re only midtable. Early door yet.

Up Next: Sunday at 2am against Crew Alexandra (NZT)

Jacqui Hand - Åland United (Finnish Kansallinen Liiga)

Back with the club for about a month, Hand has played twice upon return and it hasn’t gone very well. When she left for the World Cup, Hand was in brilliant goal-scoring form and her team was doing wonders at hanging around in the title challenge. They mostly sustained that form without her but there was one exception: a 4-0 loss to KuPS which pretty much handed those opponents full control of said title race. But there’s still second place to challenge for and Åland Utd remained in prime position ahead of HJK.

But that was before consecutive defeats against fourth-placed FC Honka. There was a 3-2 loss a couple of weeks ago in which they were leading 2-1 before Anni Miettunen was sent off and things deflated to the point of an 89th minute winner for Honka. That was a setback. Even worse was the 2-1 loss this week. They were at home. They had eleven women the whole way. They still lost.

Hand had a chance early on attacking a near-post cross which she turned wide, though by then they were already trailing due to a wicked finish from Elli Seiro after six mins. Hand also went close later on in the half with a long-range shot that curled just wide. The leveller finally arrived on 37’ when Aada Torronen picked off the ball on the high press and converted past the keeper, a press that was instigated by Jacqui Hand who appeared to be playing in the midfield here. But they conceded again before the half was done following a defensive giveaway of their own. There was a charged down effort from Hand later on. A teammate had a deflected shot tipped onto the post. Hand turned a loose one over the bar on the stretch later on. There were chances, including several for JH, but AU lost 2-1 and now drop to third... although they can solve that in a fortnight if they beat HJK. Highlights here.

Up Next: HPS vs Åland Utd at 11pm on Saturday (NZT)

Niko Kirwan – Calcio Padova (Italian Serie C)

Just checking in on the bro Niko here, who you may recall missed almost all of last season with injury but signed a new contract at Padova towards the end of the campaign anyway. They’re now back underway for the new term with Kirwan starting both games so far: a 1-1 draw away to Mantova and the 2-0 win over Legnano Salus that’s linked above. In fact not only has he been starting but it looks like he was wearing the captain’s armband too. That’s the one. Hopefully this is the year that Padova get over the hump and earn promotion.

Up Next: Away to Alessandria on Monday at 4.30am (NZT)

Corban Piper - Wexford (League of Ireland First Division)

Another win for Corban Piper and the lads. Wexford had been 1-0 down at the break against Treaty United having conceded a scrappy one from a corner kick (in a half where both teams hit the woodwork)... however the second half brought the requisite goods. Corban Piper won a penalty charging into the area. That penalty was missed by Ethan Boyle but the bloke who fouled Piper did get marched for a second bookable offence. Midfielder Piper then got subbed as his team went to a more attacking formation and the guy who replaced him, Danny Furlong, eventually scored the leveller on 72’ before Kian Corbally won it in the 79th minute. 2-1 to Wexford.

What that means is that Wexford are now four points clear in fifth place, which is where the cut-off for promotion playoffs happens. The First Division champs are promoted automatically – that’s going to be Galway United who are miles ahead - then the next four compete for the second promotion spot. With six games to go, Wexford are in a fine position to be a part of that having only lost one of their last eight matches. Plus they’re still in the FAI Cup.

Just gotta hope that it’s not Sligo Rovers who end up going down... they’ve been awful since Max Mata left and took all his goals with him and are now only three points clear of Cork City who, coincidentally, are the team that Wexford soon plays in the cup. Having said that, Nando Pijnaker is only contracted for the rest of this year so it might not be our problem if Sligo Rovers do go down.

Up Next: Sunday at 6am in the FAI Cup, Cork City vs Wexford (NZT)

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