Waterford FC 2 Shelbourne 2

Waterford FC had to be content with a share of the spoils against a much improved Shelbourne side at the RSC in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division.

John Coleman kept faith with the side that secured all three points against Bohemians on Friday night but did welcome Trae Coyle back to the bench after a nine game absence.

However, it was the visitors who got the opening breakthrough after just three minutes when former Blue Tyreke Wilson fired a cross from the left to the back post where Harry Wood was waiting and he had an easy tap in for the lead.

That lasted just five minutes as Waterford pinned Shelbourne back and when Kameron Ledwidge attempted to head the ball back to Conor Kearns, Grant Horton was on hand to intercept the ball and he held off the challenge of Sean Gannon to slot home for his first goal for the club.

And just like the opening half, there were two quick goals at the start of the second period as well with Podge Amond pouncing to capitalise on a Conor Kearns parry after a shot from Conan Noonan on 48 minutes. But from the kick off, Mark Coyle raced towards the penalty area before finding Ali Coote who first cross was scrambled away but he regained possession to fire back across the goal where Harry Wood got a touch to level the game.

Shelbourne’s substitutions gave them a new lease of life and it was Daniel Kelly who should have won it for the visitors when he crashed the ball off the woodwork deep in injury time.

Waterford FC: S McMullan, D Leahy, G Horton (B McCormack 74′), R Burke, R McDonald (K Whyte 83′), J Olayinka, S Glenfield (D McMenamy 72′), C Noonan, T Lonergan, P Amond, J Dempsey (A Boyle 61′)

Shelbourne FC: C Kearns, P Barrett, S Gannon, K Ledwidge, T Wilson (J Norris 62′), A Coote (S Boyd 74′), M Odubeko ( J Martin 85′), JJ Lunney, E Caffrey (D Kelly 62′), H Wood, M Coyle (E Chapman 74′)

Referee: Declan Toland