Waterford FC 1 Drogheda United 0
The immense Phoenix Patterson was the hero for Waterford FC as his second league goal of the season helped his side to a narrow 1-0 win over ten man Drogheda United in their SSE Airtricity Premier Division at a tension filled RSC on Friday night. The Blues produced a brilliant first half performance where Patterson was to the fore, and the former Spurs youth player popped up when drilling home the winning goal six minutes into the second half in a massive win for his side.
Although there was worry over the fitness of both Anthony Wordsworth and Eddie Nolan in the build-up to the game, both men returned to the starting line-up in place of Isaac Tshipamba and Greg Halford, who both dropped to the bench in a side that showed two changes to the team that beat UCD in the cup.
Cameron Evans picked up a yellow card inside three minutes for a tackle on fullback James Brown, and when Ronan Murray put in a dangerous right-wing free kick, the looping header that fell the way of Killian Philips was just wide of the near post.
A good move down the right involving Junior Quitirna and Darragh Power on seven minutes saw the latter pull the ball back to the top of the penalty area for Prince Mutswunguma, but his turn and first time left-footed shot was just wide of David Odumosu near post.
Quitirna showed neat feet a minute later to spray the ball out to the left side for Phoenix Patterson, who cut into the penalty area, but his teasing ball across the penalty area just missed the inrushing John Martin in the centre.
John Martin cut in from the right-side on 12 minutes looking to set up Patterson, but defender Conor Kane got in vital intervention, before the latter got in a cross from the left-wing soon afterwards to pick out the alert Mutswunguma only for his angled effort to be blocked.
A brilliant Waterford move on 16 minutes nearly yielded the breakthrough goal when Phoenix Patterson played a neat one to return pass with Junior Quitirna down the left, but his shot was superbly kept out by a super David Odumosu save.
It was the Drogheda keeper that came to his sides rescue two minutes later when the dangerous Patterson latched onto the ball down the left side, but his effort was turned around the posts, and from the resulting corner from the same player, Eddie Nolan headed narrowly over.
Waterford continued to dictate the tempo of the first half even if some of the passing was slow at times, but it all nearly came together on 33 minutes when Quitirna down well to pick out the run of John Martin only to see his first-time shot blocked by Daniel O’Reilly.
With the tempo dropping for the remainder of the half, it was Drogheda that carved out an opening in the final minute of the half when Ronan Murray sent over a left-wing corner kick that saw Joe Redmond head the ball on for Killian Philips, but his headed just cleared the crossbar.
The second half was less than three minutes old when the visitors were reduced to ten men when midfielder Gary Deegan picked up a second yellow card from Dublin referee Neil Doyle for a pull back on Prince Mutswunguma, an offence that he was also booked for after only ten minutes.
Things got even better for Waterford and worse for the visitors when the breakthrough goal arrived when Anthony Wordsworth’s clever free kick spotted Phoenix Patterson on the right, and he drilled the ball under the body of keeper David Odumosu.
Patterson nearly produced a stunning second goal five minutes later when he linked up with Cameron Evans before letting fly with a cracking right-footed strike that was tipped over the bar as the home side began to turn the screw on the game.
With manager Marc Bircham adamant that his side were a second half team in the build-up to the game, it came to the fore with another move on 64 minutes that saw Patterson set up Mutswunguma on the penalty spot, but his shot was saved with the rebound from John Martin straight at keeper Odumosu.
Another big chance went abegging for the Blues four minutes when a brilliant move involving the immense Patterson turned provider for Anthony Wordsworth on the left-side of the area, but his effort was just wide of the far post.
As an air of tension descended over the RSC for the final ten minutes of the contest, the home side always looked as if they were doing enough to keep their opponents at bay with keeper Brian Murphy not having to make a real save of note during the contest.
Waterford drawn away to Bohemians in FAI Cup semi-final
Matt Keane
Waterford FC will have to travel to Dalymount Park to play Bohemians in the semi-final of the FAI Cup.
The game will be played on the October Bank Holiday weekend.
The Blues will play the Gypsies in the league on the Bank Holiday Monday also and again the venue will be Dalymount Park.
St Patrick's Athletic will host Dundalk in the other semi-final.
Pic:Phoenix Patterson, right, of Waterford celebrates with team-mates after scoring his side's first goal during the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division match between Waterford and Drogheda United at RSC in Waterford. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
