A huge ninety minutes ahead to define our whole season
Waterford FC's Padraig Amond applauds the fans at the end of the game at Richmond Park.
It all comes down to this. After months of highs, lows, heartbreaks, and hard-fought points, our Premier Division fate will be decided under the lights at the RSC next Saturday evening. Ninety minutes to define a season. Ninety minutes that could be the difference between staying in the top flight or facing a playoff battle for survival.
Last Friday nights, hard-earned point away to Saint Patrick's Athletic could prove to be one of the most important points that we have got all season. Not many gave us much hope going up to Inchicore on Friday to face a St. Pats side who are a very formidable team, especially at home, and who are also chasing European football. For long spells in the game, we had to dig deep, and that is just what we did. In truth, we had quite a few chances ourselves, some of them really good, but a draw was probably a fair result on the balance of play and their possession stats.
Everyone put in a huge effort on the pitch throughout the ninety minutes. Still, there were some excellent performances, most notably our goalkeeper, Stephen McMullen, who made some excellent saves. Our left back turned central defender, Ryan Burke, who has been excellent this season, popped up with the equalising goal against the club he supported as a young boy.
However, a special mention must go to our right back Navajo Bakboord, who was very good. He has had a very tough season so far and hasn’t started a game for the club since April, but throughout his time at the club, he has trained excellently, waiting for his opportunity, and his attitude has been impeccable. I was really pleased for him on Friday.
As things stand, the table couldn’t be any tighter. Sligo Rovers, Galway United and ourselves all sit level on 38 points in the league standings as we head into the final week of the league season. Galway have a game in hand on both of us, which is on Wednesday night as they travel to Tallaght Stadium to face champions-elect Shamrock Rovers. It is obviously a game we want Shamrock Rovers to win, which means our final game of the season is a must-win at home against Galway United. Our goal difference is the worst of the three teams' level on points, so being level on points is no good for us. We must better the total of one from Sligo Rovers and Galway United. Sligo’s final game is also a trip to Tallaght to face Rovers, who will most likely be getting the league trophy that evening, so they will want to finish their league season on a high before resuming their European adventures.
The permutations are complex, but the message is simple. We must win on Saturday evening against Galway to have any chance of keeping our Premier Division status. Things haven’t gone the way we wanted or planned this season, but we can still ensure the club plays Premier Division football next season. There is no time to be cautious or afraid; the ninety-plus minutes on Saturday are all about heart and effort.
Waterford supporters know more than anyone how painful these moments can be. The agony of losing in the playoffs, the heartbreak of previous relegations and the long journeys in the First Division that seem to go on forever are something that they don’t want to be part of going forward. They have had too much of this in recent seasons, and they deserve to have their team playing in the Premier Division. I know that on Saturday the supporters will back us from the first whistle, as they have all season. They will be kicking and heading every ball, and having that backing could be the difference for us.
This is my second season at the football club, and in the two years here, I have seen first-hand just how important the football club is to people around the place. The heart and soul of the club is the people who give everything to it and expect nothing back in return. I hope on Saturday evening the RSC is packed with people and full of blue. Every supporter, whether it's your first game or whether you are a lifelong fan, be loud and proud to be a Waterford supporter. The noise the supporters make can make a huge difference.
Our aim on Saturday is that come the final whistle, our supporters are breathing a sigh of relief, singing their hearts out and heading into the long off-season with hope in their hearts again before it all starts again next season. Up the Blues
