Waterford FC 2 Athlone Town 1

Waterford FC advanced to the quarter finals of the Club Orange FAI Cup with a hard fought victory over a resilient Athlone Town at the RSC.

Having looked to brush aside the challenge of the Midlanders as quickly as possible, the Blues manager sent out a very strong team with Arlo Doherty in goal and Jorgen Voilas starting in place of Tommy Lonergan in the only changes from the side that beat Bohemians last week and they got the perfect start within 16 minutes when Podge Amond peeled away at the back post to meet a Benny Couto corner and his powerful header back across the goal found the net.

However, the visitors refused to capitulate and they worked themselves back into the game forcing a few corners and it was from their third that they drew level.

Aaron Connolly’s ball into a crowded six yard box asked questions of the Blues’ defence that went unanswered and Cillian Tollett pounced to side foot the ball home for the equaliser on 25 minutes.

There seemed to be a rejuvenation from the home side as the second half began as Waterford upped the pace but their second goal arrived from an unlikely situation as they won a throw in but as Couto headed across to take it, Alan Patchell indicated that they were running out of time so Jordan Houston threw the ball to Couto and he cut into the area and drilled a low ball through a crowded area and into the bottom corner.

Waterford then continued to press and Brendan Clarke saved his side on a number of occasions denying Hayden Cann and Conan Noonan with two excellent saves and he also spread himself to block Voilas late on.

There was still time for some drama deep in injury time when Sean Brennan fired a long range effort that seemed destined for the top corner but Doherty dived full length to touch it away and the resulting corner was cleared much to the relief of the 1511 fans in the stadium and Waterford FC head into Tuesday’s quarter final draw after a second successive win over First Division opposition.

Waterford FC: Doherty, Houston (McMenamy 62′), Couto, Cann, Mahon, Long, Mawene (Heeney 62′), McLaughlin (Lonergan 62′), Noonan, Amond, Voilas

Athlone Town: Clarke, Crawford (Considine 73′), O Connor, D Connolly, A Connolly, McManus, Brennan, Lomboto (Smith 81′), Grogan (Cleary 25′), Tollett (Ferry 73′), Kehir

Referee: Alan Patchell