Waterford FC 0 Cobh Ramblers 2
Waterford fell to the first home defeat against Cobh Ramblers in seven years and their second home defeat in a row as they were well beaten at the RSC.
Keith Long made two changes to the side that beat Finn Harps last week with Ryan Burke suspended and Christie Pattisson injured so Derik Osede made his home debut with Shane Griffin coming in for his first game since early July.
Waterford started well and forced a number of early corners and on ten minutes Connor Parsons broke through the defence but Lee Steacy got down to palm away his shot. From the corner, debutant Derik Osede put his header just over the bar.
Waterford’s best chance of the half came on 26 minutes when Cameron Cresswell was put through by Dean McMenamy but his composure left him down and he put the ball wide with the goal at his mercy.
Cobh’s best chance of the opening period came from Mikie Rowe who got through on 31 minutes but his weak shot never troubled Sam Sargeant.
The Rams took the lead on 53 minutes when Mikie Rowe was fouled inside the area and Jack Doherty converted the resultant penalty even though Sargeant guessed right.
And they doubled their advantage just after the hour when Killian Cantwell's clearance fell to Brendan Frahill who fired past Sargeant.
Waterford had a glorious chance to reduce the deficit when Parsons crashed an overhead kick against the crossbar but that was about as much as the Blues could muster as Cobh shut up shop and closed out the game.
Waterford FC: S Sargeant, D Power (R Mansfield 69'), N O Keeffe, S Griffin (S Perry 69'), C Parsons, D Osede (R Akachukwu 69'), C Cresswell, R Odowu (S Atakayi 39’), G Phillips, K Cantwell(A Queally 83'), D McMenamy
Cobh Ramblers: L Steacy, M McCarthy, C Browne, B Frahill, C Lyons, W Waweru (D Holland 72'), J Doherty (A Thibaut 88'), M Rowe (M McKevitt 72'), A Byrne, T O Brien (L Desmond 41’), J Abbott (C O Brien 88')
Referee: D Toland (Westmeath)
