Blues concede second-half penalty again in Dalymount stalemate
Waterford's John Mahon scores his side's goal past Bohemians' goalkeeper Kacper Chorazka
Waterford FC made it two draws over the Easter weekend as they played out a 1-1 stalemate with Bohemian FC at Dalymount Park on Easter Monday, as they conceded a penalty for the second game running that proved costly at the final whistle.
After John Mahon shocked the hosts with a first-half header that gave Jon Daly’s side the lead, it was another penalty that denied the Blues over the Easter period as Colm Whelan notched the 72nd-minute equaliser for the hosts, who dominated the game for long periods.
The home side took up the early running in the tie with Connor Parsons going close with a header inside ten minutes before Zane Myers brought a fine save out of keeper Arlo Doherty with a dipping effort on 16 minutes.
Two former Waterford players combined for Bohs' next chance with 26 minutes on the clock when Darragh Power sent over a right-wing cross that found the head of Colm Whelan, but his header lacked the power that saw keeper Doherty save with confidence.
Arlo Doherty produced a stunning save to deny Bohs the lead goal on 33 minutes when Dawson Devoy fed the ball to former Blue Connor Parsons, but his dipping right-footed shot from 25 yards was superbly tipped over the bar.
The Blues became the first team to score first against Bohs this season, two minutes later, when Senan Mullen gave away a needless free kick out on the right that saw Evan McLaughlin’s delivery find the head of John Mahon, and he beat keeper Kacper Chorazka with a fine downward header.
Alan Reynolds’ side had a chance before the half-time break to draw level when Devoy was the playmaker again to set up Harry Vaughan just outside the penalty area, but his low right-footed shot was brilliantly turned around the posts by a super Arlo Doherty diving save.
A triple Bohs change saw the hosts try to change things with Markus Strods, who replaced Vaughan, turning provider for Dawson Devoy on 61 minutes, but his stinging right-footed shot from the top of the penalty area was brilliantly tipped over by the Waterford keeper.
Doherty showed his class between the sticks to make another top save two minutes later when Adam McDonnell swung over a left-wing cross that found the head of Colm Whelan, but he was denied by another fingertip save.
The pressure from the home side finally paid off from the penalty spot on 72 minutes when Dawson Devoy went down under a challenge from Ronan Mansfield that saw referee Declan Toland point to the spot, and Colm Whelan dispatched the 12-yarder past Doherty.
The Blues netminder made a quite stunning save to deny the hosts the lead goal three minutes later when Strods found space out on the left to cross for Whelan, but his point-blank header was somehow tipped onto the crossbar as the home side began to turn on the screw with 15 minutes remaining.
Adam O’Donnell sent a ball into the danger area in the final minute that saw Arlo Doherty clear to Jordan Flores, but his looping effort just cleared the crossbar as both sides had to be happy with a share of the spoils.
Chorazka; Power, Todd, Hickey, Mullen (Flores 46); Devoy, Diallo (Tierney 58); Myers (McDonnell 58), Vaughan (Strods 58), Parsons (Burke 76): Whelan.
Doherty; Zborowski, Cann, Mahon, Mansfield, Dempsey; McLaughlin (Heeney 61), McMenamy (Faria 77), Noonan (Barrett 68); Carty (Voilas 77), Amond.
Declan Toland (Westmeath).
