Waterford FC 2 Longford Town 2
Waterford FC and Longford Town played out their third draw of the season as the visitors scored a second half penalty to secure a two all draw at the RSC, in what was the best game between the sides in a couple of years.
Off the field it was a busy week for both clubs with the transfer window opening and already we have seen four players come in for Keith Long with Fleetwood loanee Drew Baker handed his debut while Sam Perry, Christie Pattison and Serge Atakayi all started on the bench.
Meanwhile Stephen Henderson had also made quick signings with Dylan Hyland, Lewis Temple, Adam Wixted and Jordan Adeyemo all coming straight into the starting eleven following their arrival at the club this week.
Waterford made just one change to the side that demolished Finn Harps again last Friday with Killian Cantwell losing out to Baker while Henderson made five changes to the side that beat Wexford last Saturday evening with his four new signings coming in and captain Shane Elworthy returned.
The previous encounters between the sides this season were poor drab affairs but tonight’s encounter was anything but.
Waterford started brightly and opened the scoring inside six minutes when Shane Griffin found Roland Idowu with a lovely through ball and he fired past Jack Brady.
Longford caused a scare on 11 minutes when Alex Wixsted found Aaron Walsh with an excellent free kick but Blues’ blushes were spared when the ball came back off the crossbar.
However, the teams were level on 18 minutes when a long range effort from Gary Armstrong found the net.
The Blues were back in front just two minutes later when Ryan Burke was fouled inside the area and Ronan Coughlan converted the spot kick for his 28th goal of the season.
The game was turned on its head just six minutes into the second half and moments after Romeo Akanchukwu saw his effort come back off the woodwork when Giles Philips was sent off for a foul on Jordan Adeyemo who had broken through the Blue’s defence. Beneoin O Brien Whitmarsh beat Paul Martin with the penalty and the sides were level.
To their credit, Waterford pressed forward looking for the winner with Parsons blazing over from close range and Coughlan went close deep in injury time but his shot failed to find the target.
Waterford FC Paul Martin, Niall O’Keeffe, Giles Philips, Drew Baker, Ryan Burke, Shane Griffin, Barry Baggley, Romeo Akachukwu (Killian Cantwell ’53), Connor Parsons (Christie Pattison ’80), Roland Idowu, Ronan Coughlan.
Longford Town: Jack Brady, Shane Elworthy (Mohammed Boudiaf ’64), Aaron Walsh (Cristian Magerusan ’80), Beineon O’Brien-Whitmarsh, Dylan Hand, Gary Armstrong, Lewis Temple, Adam Wixted, Jordan Adeyemo (Joshua Giurgi ’80), Viktor Serdeniuk, Kyle O’Connor (Derek Daly ’64).
Referee: Daniel Murphy (Dublin).
