By Ray Scott
Waterford ended the Easter weekend with no points from their two games at the RSC. With Cork City the visitors for the second game, hopes were high that the Blues could reverse the result of their first meeting at Turner’s Cross.
Despite a very bright start where Louis Britton hit the upright with a header in the second minute, Waterford found themselves behind on nine minutes when Matt Healy was afforded a lot of space and fired an unstoppable shot past Brian Murphy in what was their first chance of the half.
They should have added to their lead when Ruairi Keating fired across Murphy’s goal and then Eddie Nolan denied the Cork striker when he blocked his shot on the goal line midway through the half.
Waterford’s chances were few and far between but there was a dramatic end to the half when Yassine En Neyah was blatantly fouled inside the area - however referee Gavin Colfer waved away the penalty claims.
The sides were level just before the hour mark in a great move started and finished by Phoenix Patterson who fired low inside the right upright. However the lead lasted just four minutes when Cork restored their advantage as Ally Gilchrist rose to head home from their first corner of the game.
Waterford did have a great chance to equalise at the death but Cian Kavanagh was denied by the excellent David Harrington who managed to block the striker’s effort.
In the end, it was a much improved performance by the Blues but following this latest game, they now find themselves nine points adrift of Cork who lead the First Division.
