WNL Report: UCD Waves 0 - 1 Peamount United

Peamount United returned to the top of the Women's National League table with a hard-fought 1-0 win over UCD Waves at Jackson Park on Sunday afternoon.

Heather Payne's second goal of the season just before the hour was enough to see the visitors leapfrog Shelbourne and Wexford Youths into pole position.

Wexford had briefly gone top following their 3-1 win over Shelbourne on Saturday evening, and the Peas went quickly about re-establishing their position at the top.

Payne went close with a header early on before teeing up strike partner Áine O'Gorman moments later for a shot the Irish international hooked straight at goalkeeper Erica Turner.

Peas lined up without Amber Barrett,who sported crutches and a medical boot after sustaining an inury that will worry the watching Colin Bell ahead of June's double-header with Norway.

As a result, Eleanor Ryan-Doyle started in the central striker role and manager James O'Callaghan adapted the gameplan accordingly with a less direct, more possession-based game.

They were frustrated by a Waves side who endured the early pressure and worked their way into the game, with Dearbhaile Beirne's hopeful effort their first attempt on goal.

Carla Moran – starting her first game of the season up front for UCD – directed a header on target that Peas keeper Naoisha McAloon had trouble dealing with, but the offside flag had been raised.

O'Gorman shot wide from the edge of the box before Lucy McCartan forced another save from Turner after catching Leanne Payne in possession in her own half.

There were 12 minutes of added time at the end of the first half following medical treatment for UCD winger Caolán Carroll, and the home side should have led going into the extra minutes.

McAloon, who looked unsteady under high balls all afternoon, made a hames of a cross and let the ball run free to Sophie O'Donoghue, who could only stab the ball back across the face of goal.

Naima Chemaou kept the ball in and put it back in the middle for Moran, who was left head in hands when she could only divert the ball back off the wrong side of the post.

And Ryan-Doyle should have sent Peas in at the break in the lead when she beat the offside trap and ran through, but one-on-one with Turner she put her shot the wrong side of the post.

Chemaou forced McAloon into a routine save early in the second half but Peamount clearly came out with intent to increase the tempo and they started to get on top once more.

Former UCD midfielder Karen Duggan intercepted a loose pass in midfielder before shooting wide and, Waves not having learned their lesson, McCartan did the same before forcing a save.

Seconds later, Peamount led as Payne was played in behind the defence and, Turner having denied her with her legs, the striker got up to finish at the second attempt.

The visitors threatened to kick on after the goal, and both Ryan-Doyle and O'Gorman spurned reasonable chances by failing to hit the target.

UCD battled hard and showed quality on the ball in the final stages, with Dearbhaile Beirne once again their most likely outlet, but struggled to create clear chances.

Following another, astonishing, 12 minutes of injury time that left Peamount management exasperated, the final whistle was blown and Peamount returned to the summit.

UCD Waves: Erica Turner; Aisling Dunbar, Róisín McGovern, Chelsee Snell, Katie Burdis; Sinead Gaynor, Leanne Payne, Dearbhaile Beirne; Caolán Carroll (Sophie O'Donoghue 37), Naima Chemaou (Eimear Lafferty 79), Carla Moran (Aisling Spillane 69).

Subs not used: Keelin McEntee, Orla Haran, Jenny Chambers.

Booked: Aisling Dunbar (45+6).

Peamount United: Naoisha McAloon; Lauryn O'Callaghan (Sarah McKevitt 81), Louise Corrigan, Chloe Moloney, Claire Walsh; Lucy McCartan, Karen Duggan, Niamh Farrelly; Áine O'Gorman, Heather Payne, Eleanor Ryan-Doyle (Louise Masterson 88 (Megan Smyth-Lynch 90+1)).

Subs not used: Niamh Reid-Burke (gk), Niamh Barnes, Jade Reddy, Doireann Fahey,

Booked: Eleanor Ryan-Doyle (61).

Referee: TBC

Attendance: 50 (estimate).

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Heather Payne (Peamount United).