Pressure mounts on Waterford FC after fifth straight league defeat
Waterford FC's Dean McMenamy in possession against St. Patrick's Athletic during their clash at the RSC. Photo: Ken Sutton
Waterford FC are still waiting their first win in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division as they slipped to a 2-0 loss against St. Patrick’s Athletic at the RSC following another disappointing performance in front of their home faithful.
A fifth straight defeat on the bounce has Jon Daly’s side sitting at the foot of the table and this result will mount pressure on the Blues manager ahead of their next three fixtures against Shamrock Rovers, Bohemians, and Drogheda United, the former and latter to be played at the RSC.
After the returning John Mahon cleared an effort from Sean Hoare off the line on 22 minutes, the breakthrough arrived for the visitors just six minutes later as Jason McClelland’s cross was headed goalwards by Luke Turners, but the final touch came off luckless Blues defender Hayden Cann.
The second-half was less than a minute old when the home side could have levelled. Hayden Cann’s route one ball saw defender Hoare misjudge his attempted header back to keeper Anang, which saw Heeney latch onto the loose ball, but he blazed wide of the near post.
Kian Leavy nearly doubled the lead on 54 minutes when the attacker took a pass from Jason McClelland on the top of the penalty area, but his cracking left-footed effort was fingertipped over the bar by keeper McMullan.
The tricky number ten danced a jig down the Waterford right flank on the hour mark, only to be denied by a super Stephen McMullan save, and when the rebound fell nicely on the left foot of substitute Aidan Keena, he curled an effort inches wide of the far post.
Kenny’s side doubled the lead on 70 minutes. Aidan Keena took a pass from Leavy on the left side of the penalty area before arrowing a shot that seemed destined for the far corner of the net, but Luke Turner made sure of the goal when heading home from close range.
Padraig Amond had a goal ruled out for offside two minutes later before a string of Stephen McMullan saves to deny Darragh Nugent, Joe Redmond and the impressive Aidan Keena kept the scoring at just two as the wait for a Waterford win continues.
McMullan; Cann, Mahon, Mansfield; Zborowski (Houston 74), Heeney (Voilas 63), Glenfield (McMenamy 46), Noonan, Couto; Lonergan (Carty 74), Amond.
Anang; Brown, Redmond (Grivosti 90), Hoare, Turner; Leavy, Nugent (Bartley 90), Baggley, McClelland (Breslin 90); Edmondson (Mata 64), Palmer (Keena 55).
Neil Doyle (Dublin).
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