As It Happened
Waterford FC made it five wins on the bounce when they defeated Bohemians in the RSC on Saturday afternoon. It was a game that the Blues dominated throughout the 90 minutes. Bohemians are riding high in European football but they had no answer to the Blues in this contest.
The dangerous Junior Quitirna whipped in a left-wing cross on 10 minutes that picked out the run of Martin, and after his header came back off the crossbar, the ball bounced off keeper Talbot before being eventually cleared off the line.
Quitirna was in the thick of the action once again on 18 minutes when he got in along the end line, and after his initial effort was blocked by Bohs defender James Finnerty, his second effort flashed just wide of Talbot’s right-hand post as the Blues played on the front foot.
Former Blues player Tyreke Wilson combined with Keith Ward down the left-side on five minutes later, but his cross was superbly cut out by Cameron Evans, before James Finnerty nearly put through his own net when trying to deal with a John Martin teasing cross on 27 minutes.
Waterford had a strong penalty appeal turned down by referee Graham Kelly seven minutes later when it seemed that attacker Prince Mutswunguma was wrestled to the ground by a Bohs defender, but the Cork official was unmoved much to the annoyance of the home faithful.
As manager Marc Bircham watched on from the stands through suspension, he saw his side take a deserved lead on 42 minutes when Shane Griffin and Junior Quitirna combined down the right, and after his cross was flicked goalwards by Cameron Evans, Talbot blocked to new signing Phoenix Patterson to bundle home.
Eddie Nolan tried his luck from the halfway line on 49 minutes, but James Talbot had it covered before Andy Lyons brought a fine save out of Brian Murphy two minutes later when he cracked in a shot that saw a diving save from the Blues netminder.
Two-goal hero in Europe midweek and former Blue Ali Coote blazed wide from a good position on 57 minutes after he was set up by Georgie Kelly, before Junior Quitirna had a great chance to double the Waterford lead four minutes later when he got clear on goal only to be denied by James Talbot.
With Waterford defending resolutely, it was Darragh Power that did well when clearing an effort from Andy Lyons, before Rory Feely had a chance deep in injury time when he got free inside the six-yard box but the Blues defence held firm to land a massive win.
Teams
Waterford FC: Brian Murphy, Darragh Power, Cameron Evans, Eddie Nolan, Jack Stafford, Shane Griffin, Niall O’Keeffe, Junior Quitirna (Kyle Ferguson ’86), John Martin, Phoenix Patterson, Prince Mutswunguma (Greg Halford ’72)
Bohemian FC: James Talbot, Andy Lyons, Rory Feely, James Finnerty, Tyreke Wilson, Dawson Devoy, Conor Levingston (Aaron Doran ’78), Ali Coote, Jamie Mullins (Ross Tierney ’57), Keith Ward (Liam Burt ’57), Georgie Kelly.
Referee: Graham Kelly
