Sheppard’s strike sends Seagulls joint top
The race for the Waterford Premier League title took another twist over the course of last weekend as Tramore moved joint top of the table with Villa after they recorded a 1-0 win over third-placed Hibernians at Graun Park.
With Villa’s clash with Dungarvan called off due to Covid 19 concerns in Dungarvan, Leigh Quilty’s side took advantage as Sam Sheppard scored what proved to be the winning goal with a close-range finish.
Sheppard was on hand to score his sixth league goal of the campaign when he fired home from deep inside the penalty area after an initial shot from Dean Kennedy was blocked by the Hib's defence.
After Regix Madika missed chances to increase the lead, Conor Whittle had the best chance for Hibernians in the final minute of the first half, but his shot was saved by Tramore keeper Gavin Buckley.
Chances in the second half were few and far between as Tramore limited their opponents to a couple of half-chances from Luke Kiely and an Alex Phelan free-kick that went wide as the seaside outfit held out for a deserved win.
Tramore are level with Villa on 27 points from 11 games, but they have played two more games than the Connor’s Park club.
The two teams will go head to head in a crunch game under the Tramore lights this Friday evening with a 7 pm kick-off.
Ferrybank 5 Southend 0
In the other weekend game, Ferrybank inflicted further relegation worry on Southend United as Richard Gaffney’s side eased to a 5-0 success at the Village Grounds. First-half goals from Meschac Babatu and Ethan Phelan put the hosts in front with Justin Croke netting a second-half brace, and Eoin Rhodes scoring his 9th league of the season as Ferrybank sit in fourth place.
Southend are still on three points at the bottom with Piltown after ten games played, and they take on Waterford Crystal at Crystal Park next weekend with Piltown facing Ferrybank at Kildalton Park on Friday evening.
The other games will see Carrick Utd host Ballinroad and Hibernians face Dungarvan with both these games and Southend’s match scheduled for next Sunday morning with an 11am kick-off.
