Waterford FC 3 Bohemians 1

Waterford FC eased themselves out of the bottom two in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division for the first time since February with a well deserved and comprehensive victory over Bohemians at a sunny RSC.

And it was the master and the student who undid the Gypsies as Padraig Amond and Tommy Lonergan combined to rip open the Blues defence with a little help from Benny Couto who covered every blade of grass in his best performance in a blue shirt this season.

Graham Coughlan was forced into one change from the side that defeated Shelbourne with Noah Mawene replacing the injured Will Johnson and the new signing justified the manager’s faith with a solid display in the midfield.

The opening goal arrived on 21 minutes when Couto fired a long throw into the area where it was cleared back to him. He then floated a wonderful ball to the back post where Lonergan rose highest to head past Paul Walters.

Couto was involved again with another long throw on 38 minutes but Walters’ attempted punch clear ended up bouncing off Amond and he chested it to the net.

Amond delivered his second of the game a minute before the break when he met an inswinging corner from Couto at the back post and the ball nestled in the net off Walters and the post.

Alan Reynolds wring the changes at half time, bring in Ross Tierney, Senan Mullan and Sadou Diallo for Darragh Power, Niall Morahan and Douglas James Taylor and it was Tierney who seemed to be on form as he headed against the post just after the hour but provided the impetus for a Bohemians revival.

They did pull a goal back 19 minutes from time when Tierney’s long range effort was parried by McMullan and it was Dale Rooney who reacted quickest to slot the ball home past the goalkeeper.

But the Blues held firm to secure another three vital points and further ease the pressure at the bottom.

Waterford FC: McMullan, Houston, Cann, Mahon, Long, Couto, Mawene, Noonan (McMenamy 90+1′), McLaughlin (Heeney 90+1′), Amond (Voilas 87′), Lonergan

Bohemians: Walters, Morahan (Tierney 46′), Flores (Parsons 68′), Vaughan (Strods 79′), Whelan, Rooney, Hickey, Power (Mullen 46′), James Taylor (Diallo 46′), Todd, Byrne

Referee: Kevin O Sullivan (Cork)