Coughlan hits four as Blues cling on for fourth successive win

Ronan Coughlan scored four goals as Waterford FC continued their winning ways in the SSE Airtricity League First Division with a 4 - 3 win over Athlone Town at the RSC last night. However, it was game of two halves as Ray Scott reports.

The Blues' got off to the perfect start when Coughlan met a Shane Griffin cross and powered his header past Enda Minogue on 9 minutes. He doubled his tally on 27 minutes when Athlone defender Noah Van Geenan mishit his pass to the striker and he fired past Minogue again.

The third came on 38 minutes when Van Geenan was dispossessed by Coughlan and he scooped the ball over the goalkeeper and two minutes later he notched his fourth when he picked up a wonderful crossfield ball from Ryan Burke before slotting it into the bottom corner to become the first player since Vinny Sullivan in 2010 to score four goals in the same game for Waterford.

However, the visitors were given a lifeline in the second period when Pat Hickey headed home from second phase play after Waterford failed to clear a corner on 53 minutes and two minutes later Franzt Pierrot converted a penalty kick after he was pulled down by Darragh Power.

Valerii Dolia pounced on a lapse of concentration at a free kick as he spotted Paul Martin out of position to reduce the lead to the minimum on 69 minutes but the Blues held out to secure all three points to remain in second place on the table.