UCD 1 Waterford FC 2
Report by Matt Keane
It was a win that meant so much to Waterford FC manager Alan Reynolds and his reaction when Dean Walsh’s winner hit the back of the UCD net four minutes from time told its own story as his side picked up a massive three points in their bid for survival in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division at the UCD Bowl last night (Friday).
With the Blues seeking their first win in six games, Zack Elbouzedi’s opener on seven minutes was cancelled out by Liam Kerrigan and it looked as if the luck was once again going to evade Waterford, but they kept fighting with second-half substitute Dean Walsh scoring a priceless winner.
It would be fair to say that there was pressure on the Blues going into the game against the bottom side in the division with manager Reynolds making three changes from the Finn Harps defeat, but they responded to the pressure to record a win that eases the pressure off at the foot of the table.
Blues keeper Matt Connor came to his sides rescue to deny the Students a breakthrough goal on seven minutes when Liam Kerrigan outmuscled Maxi Kougoun inside the area to latch onto a through ball from Jason McClelland, but his shot was superbly saved.
It was a crucial moment as the visitors struck the front at the other end seconds later when Zack Elbouzedi, who was returning to the side after picking up an injury on international duty, took a pass from Michael O’Connor before showing great skill to turn onto his right-foot to beat Tom Murphy with a neat strike from 12 yards.
The hosts did have a couple of half-chances to get back on level terms with Sam Byrne having a free-kick deflected out for a corner kick on 18 minutes after a foul by Maxi Kouogun before Jason McClelland cracked a left-footed effort from distance wide soon after.
Connor showed his class between the sticks to keep UCD at bay when he made a top save on 25 minutes when Mark Dignam set the ball up nicely into the path of Liam Kerrigan 20-yards from goal and his effort that seemed destined for the right-hand corner was brilliantly turned around the posts by the netminder.
A teasing Rory Feely cross into the penalty area nearly yielded a second Blues goal on 33 minutes when the skipper put in a brilliant delivery looking for Michael O’Connor, but the clearance from UCD defender Evan Farrell struck the crossbar before JJ Lunney shot straight at the keeper from the resulting corner kick.
Waterford missed a golden chance to double their lead with four minutes played in the second half when Cory Galvin fed O’Connor, who in turn sprayed the ball out to the right for Shane Duggan and after his cross picked out the unmarked JJ Lunney six-yards from goal, he somehow diverted the ball wide of the target.
Michael O’Connor was the next player to go close for Alan Reynolds side as they started the second period on the front foot on 52 minutes when he got on the end of a right-wing Rory Feely cross, who had received a pass from Galvin, but his header went wide of the back post.
PRICELESS WINNER
UCD showed their threat in attack with Matt Connor called upon to make a fine save to keep his side in front four minutes later when Jason McClelland set up Paul Doyle on the edge of the penalty area, but his left-footed strike that looked destined for the bottom left-corner was parried away.
It was against the run of play and another soft goal to concede that saw the Blues pegged back on 68 minutes when skipper Paul Doyle played the ball from the left-wing position that saw Rory Feely fail to clear and when it fell nicely for Liam Kerrigan just inside the area, he beat Connor at his near post with a right-footed strike.
Blues boss Alan Reynolds introduced Dean Walsh in the hope of getting a winner and he proved to be the key to unlocking a resolute UCD defence with a stunning winner four minutes from time. The striker found space out on the left side to meet a delivery from John Kavanagh and with a swing of his left foot, he arrowed an unstoppable strike to the far corner to send the Waterford faithful into wild celebrations.
With referee Paul Tuite, a late replacement for Anthony Buttimer, adding four added minutes in the second half, there was a nervy moment for Blues keeper when he kicked a clearance off Mark Dignam, but the ball spun wide of the target as Reynolds troops showed character to edge them away from the relegation zone.
UCD: Tom Murphy, Liam Scales, Harry McEvoy, Evan Farrell, Mark Dignam, Richie O’Farrell, Jack Keaney, Paul Doyle (Danu Kinsella Bishop `90), Jason McClelland, Liam Kerrigan (Jack Ryan `83), Sam Byrne (Yoyo Mahdy `80)
WATERFORD FC: Matt Connor, Rory Feely, Maxi Kouogun, Rob Slevin, John Kavanagh, Tom Holland, Shane Duggan (Georgie Poynton `83), JJ Lunney, Zack Elbouzedi, Cory Galvin (Karolis Chvedukas `61), Michael O’Connor (Dean Walsh `74)
Referee: Paul Tuite (Dublin)
