Bohemians 2 Waterford FC 1

A goal from former Blue Ryan Burke secured all three points in a thrilling game at Dalymount Park. But it could have all been so different had the Blues converted a penalty minutes into the second half.

It was a tale of two corners in the opening forty five minutes as both sides converted from the set piece. Bohemians took the lead after just 12 minutes when a Jordan Flores corner was met by Sam Todd and he headed past Stephen McMullan to give them a perfect start.

Waterford’s first real opportunity came seven minutes before the break when Luke Heeney almost fired to the net but Paul Walters somehow got a finger to the ball and touched it over the bar. From the resulting corner, Waterford were level as Padraig Amond peeled away to the back post before meeting a Benny Couto corner and heading home.

Waterford got the perfect start to the second half when John Mahon was dragged down inside the penalty area by Cian Byrne and despite Tommy Lonergan sending Paul Walters the wrong way, the ball flew outside the upright.

The miss seemed to energise the crowd and Bohs responded as they forced Waterford back. Burke tested McMullen with a great shot that was parried for a corner just before the hour and it was the former Waterford left back, who was making his first start for the Gypsies this evening, who broke Blues hearts.

A surging run from the left went unchallenged and when he got inside the penalty area he drilled a low effort with his right foot across McMullan to the bottom corner.

Despite their best efforts, Waterford could not find their way back into the game and the with results elsewhere going against them, they now drop back into the playoff spot. With Galway United and Drogheda United both visiting the RSC next week, the next seven days could be defining for Waterford’s quest to avoid the dreaded playoff.

Bohemians: Walters, Burke (Hickey 78′), Diallo (Morahan 73′), Flores, Parsons (Rooney 90+4′), Vaughan (Strods 73′), Power, James-Taylor (Whelan 73′), Todd, Byrne, Tierney

Waterford FC: McMullan, Houston (McMenamy 86′), Cann, Mahon, Long, Couto, Heeney (Voilas 78′), Mawene (McLaughlin 78′), Noonan, Amond, Lonergan

Referee: P McLauglin