By Matt Keane
Waterford FC suffered their third straight defeat since the resumption of the summer break when they lost out to a more determined St. Patrick's Athletic side in their SSE Airtricity Premier Division clash played at the RSC last night (Friday).
Played in front of a strong 1589 attendance, the Blues failed to reach the same level of performance as they produced against Bohs as a much-changed Alan Reynolds side conceded twice after striking the front through a cracking Cory Galvin strike.
The Blues manager made four changes to the side that lost away to Dundalk that saw the return of Dean O'Halloran, John Martin, Maxi Kouogun and Galvin to the starting line-up, but it made little difference as the saints were the better team on the night.
Dean O'Halloran touched the ball onto Dean Walsh for the hosts first chance of the game out on the right side on 16 minutes, but despite trying to turn the ball onto his left-foot, it was defender Ciaran Kelly that got in a brilliant block.
Former Chelsea underage player Conor Clifford had the first opportunity for the saints ten minutes later when Simon Madden got free down the right before crossing for Jake Walker, who in turn laid the ball off into the path of the midfielder, but his shot from the top of the penalty area was straight at Matt Connor.
QUICKFIRE GOALS
It was a stunning goal that gave the Blues the lead on the half hour mark when a super move down the left saw Shane Duggan release Dean Walsh, who saw the ball break off him for Cory Galvin, who turn onto his right-foot before arrowing a right-footed strike from 20 yards to the far corner past a helpless Brendan Clarke.
The lead lasted less than two minutes as the visitors were awarded a free kick 30-yards from goal as Jamie Lennon played a quick ball to Conor Clifford and he unleashed a right-footed effort that flew into the top right-hand corner that gave the stranded Matt Connor no chance.
St. Patrick's Athletic could have got their noses in front in the final minute of the first half when Simon Madden done all the spadework down the right before setting up Dean Clarke, but his cracking effort from the top of the penalty area came crashing back off the woodwork with Connor beaten.
In a slow start to the second half, it was the saints that had a half chance on 59 minutes when Jamie Lennon whipped in a corner kick from the right that broke to Kevin Toner at the back post, but his goal bound effort hit a teammate that took the ball past Matt Connor.
The men from Richmond Park struck the front just three minutes later when they worked the ball well out on the left that saw Ian Bermingham set up Toner, who put in a cross for Dean Clarke at the back post and after his header was blocked by Georgie Poynton, he made no mistake when hammering the rebound to the net.
LATE CHANCES
Blues boss Alan Reynolds introduced both JJ Lunney and new signing Tom Holland into the fray shortly after the goal and it was the former that sent in a corner kick from the right that found the head of Bastien Héry on 69 minutes, but his header lacked power as Brendan Clarke saved with ease.
A good Waterford move on 75 minutes saw Kenny Browne link up with Rory Feely on the left-side of the area and when he picked out the run of Shane Duggan on the edge of the penalty area, the midfielder couldn't keep his effort on target as the ball went over the bar.
With referee Sean Grant adding seven minutes added time in the second period, the home side thought that they had won an unlikely point in the second of those minutes when Georgie Poynton whipped in a corner kick from the right that found the head of Dean O'Halloran, but somehow Brendan Clarke kept the ball out.
It was Grant that had a major call to make soon afterwards when Shane Duggan went to ground under a challenge from Lee Desmond and with the Waterford players looking for a penalty, the official, who was very poor throughout, waved play on.
WATERFORD FC: Matt Connor, Rory Feely, Kenny Browne, Maxi Kouogun, Kevin Lynch (Georgie Poynton `46), Shane Duggan, Bastien Héry, Dean O'Halloran, Cory Galvin (JJ Lunney `64), John Martin, Dean Walsh (Tom Holland `64)
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Brendan Clarke, Simon Madden, Kevin Toner, Lee Desmond, Ciaran Kelly, Ian Bermingham, Jamie Lennon, Conor Clifford, Dean Clarke (Darragh Markey `75), Cian Coleman, Jake Walker (Gary Shaw `58)
Referee: Sean Grant (Wexford)
