Baptism of fire for new man Coughlan as Blues outclassed by Super Saints
Waterford FC manager Graham Coughlan reacts to a St. Pat's goal during their SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division clash at Richmond Park. Photo: INPHO/Andrew Conan
A first game in charge that promised so much for the new Waterford FC Head Coach Graham Coughlan ended in unmitigated disaster as St. Patrick’s Athletic capitalised on key second-half moments in outclassing the Premier Division’s bottom side at Richmond Park.
After Coughlan got life in the managerial hotseat off to a dream start inside five minutes in front of the Virgin Media cameras through a Tommy Lonergan or John Mahon goal, depending on your eyesight, it all went pear-shaped before half-time after conceding a penalty, before Zach Elbouzedi took centre stage.
The breakthrough arrived when Couto’s sublime ball over the top released Padraig Amond clear on the right-side, but his shot from an acute angle was saved by Joseph Anang for a right-wing corner.
Couto swung in the flag kick that found the head of Tommy Lonergan, and his header nicked off teammate John Mahon before flying past keeper Anang from deep inside the penalty area Sam Glenfield picked up a harsh yellow card for a body check on the edge of the penalty area two minutes later that saw former Blue Barry Baggley step over the free-kick that was well held by Arlo Doherty, with that card becoming a massive talking point later in the half.
Kian Leavy danced a jig past four Waterford players after picking up the ball out on the right on 13 minutes before finally getting the better of Lonergan, but his cracking left-footed strike fizzed inches wide of Doherty’s right-hand post.
Leavy found space for himself down the Blues’ right again on the half-hour mark before putting a teasing cross to the near post for Chris Forrester, but the centre midfielder couldn’t direct his strike on target as the hosts continued to dominate in terms of possession.
The home side had a chance from a set piece to draw level on 40 minutes when James Brown sent in a left-wing corner that found the head of Sean Hoare, but his header was wide of the far post before Lonergan went close at the other end sixty seconds later, only to see his shot deflected wide off Hoare.
Disaster struck for the Blues deep into first-half added time as the hosts drew level from the penalty spot as Glenfield was guilty of dragging down Barry Baggley as he tried to get on the end of James Brown's cross, and Chris Forrester beat Doherty from the spot with Glenfield lucky not to pick up a second yellow.
The home side had their tails up from the opening minute of the second-half with Kian Leavy cracking a shot nearly wide on 49 minutes before Luke Turner teed up Zach Elbouzedi on the top of the area, but his shot flashed wide of the near post.
Coughlan spoke about moments in games during his first pre-match interview, and it was a moment that saw his side fall behind on 57 minutes. Leavy and Brown combined down the right for the latter to cross for Chris Forrester, whose header was dealt with by Jordan Houston, and Zach Elbouzedi punished with a clinical finish.
There was nothing that Coughlan’s men could do about the quality of finish that saw the hosts increase their lead three minutes later. Leavy continued to cause problems with his goalbound effort blocked by Kevin Long back into the path of Elbouzedi, and he applied a wonderful right-footed finish from 25 yards past a helpless Doherty.
Luke Heeney, who replaced Sam Glenfield at the break, had a big chance to bring his side back into the game on 63 minutes. Conan Noonan’s right-wing cross was knocked down by Tommy Lonergan for the midfielder, but his effort crashed back off the top of the crossbar.
It was the brilliance of Leavy that caused utter panic in the Waterford defence for a fourth goal on 77 minutes when he won possession in midfield to slip the ball outside for Elbouzedi, who in turn squared for Ryan Edmondson, whose final touch before being substituted was to finish past Doherty.
It could have been even more for a rampant Pat’s side three minutes later as Romal Palmer, with literally his first touch after replacing the man of the match, Kian Leavy, saw his stunning effort from the top of the area tipped over by Doherty.
Anang; Hoare, Redmond, Nugent, Brown; Elbouzedi (Breslin 83), Baggley (Rooney 87), Forrester (Lennon 79), Turner; Leavy (Palmer 79), Edmondson (Mata 79).
Doherty, Houston, Cann (Faria 75), Long, Mahon, Couto; McMenamy (Johnson 68), Glenfield (Heeney 46), Noonan (Violas 83); Amond (Carty 83), Lonergan.
Rob Harvey (Dublin).
4,132
