Waterford FC 2
Dundalk 1
Goals from Sam Bellis and Padraig Amond secured a huge win for Waterford FC in the hunt for European football as they saw off Dundalk 2-1 in the League of Ireland Premier Division.
First half
Waterford threatened in the opening exchanges, Darragh Power breaking up the right and his cross finding Sam Bellis within 45 seconds but his effort with his back to goal was easily dealt with by Ross Munro.
It didn't take long for the Blues to take the lead though, Amond outmuscling his marker with a long ball from Grant Horton allowing Bellis to race through, and he finished powerfully into the bottom right corner on 5 minutes to send the home fans into raptures.
There was almost an instant reply when Eoin Kenny cut inside and flashed a curling effort just wide in what was a real end-to-end start, but thankfully for the Blues it went the wrong side of Louis Jones' right-hand post.
Waterford's luck held firm again on 11 minutes when Ryan O'Kane was slipped through but his cutback evaded Daryl Horgan in what was a real let-off for the home side.
Those missed opportunities proved extremely costly for Dundalk as Waterford ruthlessly punished them on the break moments later - Bellis and Barry Baggley combined well on the left and Baggley whipped in a sumptuous cross that was met with a bullet header from Padraig Amond. His 12th league goal of the season - 2-0 to the Blues with 16 minutes on the clock.
The Blues were comfortable in possession afterward as the visitors were somewhat shellshocked to be two goals behind, fullbacks Darragh Power and Ryan Burke were prominent throughout - while Baggley, McDonald and McMenamy looked assured in midfield.
The two-goal advantage somehow remained intact on the half hour, as Eoin Kenny looked certain to score from a fine cutback, but Grant Horton's hand turned the ball around the post - and to Waterford's extreme luck, referee Rob Hennessy nor his officials saw it. Kenny and Dundalk boss Jon Daly saw yellow for their appeals - a massive let off on multiple fronts.
Waterford nearly made it three five minutes later, Power whipping a low fizzing cross into the six-yard box that just eluded Amond, before the Carlow man saw another effort fire off the defence after a fine Blues counter-attack. Some of the football on offer in the opening period was as good as seen in quite some time from Keith Long's men - and despite riding their luck at times, they were value for their 2-goal advantage.
Second half
The second period began with penalty appeals for the hosts which were waved away before a corner kick from Baggley came back off the crossbar - but it was evident from the resumption that Waterford were looking for that all-important third goal.
A snapshot from Dean McMenamy on 57 minutes drew an excellent save out of Munro - before Darragh Power's free header went just wide from the resultant corner.
Dundalk blooded two changes and substitute Robert Mahon's cross found Daryl Horgan but the former Ireland international blazed his effort over the bar.
McMenamy saw another long-range effort drift wide before the Lilywhites piled bodies forward as they were desperately bidding to cut the deficit in half.
Excellent hold-up play from Amond set in substitute Ben McCormack on 71 minutes but his effort was well blocked by Hayden Cann.
Out of nowhere, Dundalk were back in the game on 76 minutes - as Jad Hakiki turned Darragh Leahy inside the area before squaring to fellow substitute Jamie Gullan who made no mistake slotting under Louis Jones from close range. Game on.
McCormack flashed a free kick over the bar as Waterford looked to restore their two-goal advantage but pressure was mounting and panic alarms sounding in the Blues backline.
Jones was forced to turn behind a header from Dara Keane on 84 minutes and John Mountney then missed a free header at the back post.
Fourth official Aaron O'Dowd hung up four minutes added time as the RSC was a cauldron of nervousness, but Waterford held firm for what could be a massive three points come the end of season.
Waterford FC: Louis Jones; Darragh Power, Grant Horton, Kacper Radkowski, Darragh Leahy, Ryan Burke (Shane Flynn '90); Rowan McDonald, Barry Baggley, Dean McMenamy (Ben McCormack '70); Padraig Amond, Sam Bellis (Gbemi Arubi '79)
Dundalk: Ross Munro; Andy Boyle, Daryl Horgan, Robbie Benson (Dara Keane '70), Ryan O'Kane (Robert Mahon 60'), John Mountney, Eoin Kenny (Jamie Gullan '70), Scott McGill (Jad Hakiki '60), Daniel Pike, Hayden Cann, Aodh Dervin (Koen Oostenbrink '84)
Referee: Rob Hennessy
Attendance: 2,226
