League Preview: DLR Waves -v- Shelbourne

DLR WAVES

Waves will be looking to bring themselves firmly into the Women’s National League title race with a victory over Shelbourne when the sides meet at the UCD Bowl on Saturday (kick-off 6pm).

Graham Kelly’s side have been performing excellently this season although their three losses have come against the teams ahead of them in the League with Peamount Untied, Shelbourne and Wexford Youths all winning meetings with Waves this season.

They are on a two game winning streak coming into the weekend however, and they will have breathed a sigh of relief with their narrow victory over an improving Cork City last weekend when Ciara Maher finally broke the deadlock in the 88^th minute to give them the three points.

It was a narrow loss for Waves when they met Shels earlier this year and a victory this weekend would be important for the rest of their season with the chance to go just three points off the top of the table on Saturday.

SHELBOURNE

The Reds have suffered just a single loss this season in their bid to be crowned Women’s National League Champions for 2021.

Since that loss to Peamount United in their third game of the season, Noel King’s side have gone unbeaten in eight games and they have won seven of those to put themselves level on points with Peas at the top of the table.

Their last game saw the Reds claim a crucial three points in a game that could have almost tipped the League beyond them once again even at this stage of the season.

They hosted Peamount United at Tolka Park where a last minute winner saw Shels emerge 4-3 winners and the gap at the top of table closed.

Two goals from Saoirse Noonan and one from Emily Whelan meant that Shels were in a 3-2 lead late into the game with Eleanor Ryan Doyle and Aine O’Gorman scoreing for Peas.

Pearl Slattery scored an own goal in injury time to make it 3-3 and it looked like the sides would share the points until Noelle Murray managed to get the ball in the net deeper into injury time to give Shelbourne their biggest win of the season.

MATCH STATS

Shels have won seven of their last eight games in the WNL.

DLR Waves have never beaten Shelbourne in the Women’s National League.

Waves have already lost to Shelbourne this season with the Reds emerging victorious in a 2-1 win in May.

BETTING

DLR Waves 17/2; Draw 4/1; Shelbourne 1/5.

PREDICTION

DLR Waves 0–1 Shelbourne

DLR Waves

Injured: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Suspended: None.

Shelbourne

Injured: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Suspended: None.