Waterford withstand relegation gauntlet
All smiles as Waterford FC get the job done in Dublin.
Waterford FC retained their SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division status in a deserved but not unsurprising manner that saw them come from behind to defeat a resilient Bray Wanderers side, in difficult conditions, on a dreadful pitch at Tolka Park.
And the performance was as much a reflection of a difficult season as it was a final with so much at stake, where Sam Glenfield was the hero of the evening with a stunning strike sixteen minutes from time in a tie that saw the Blues dominate possession but fail to break the resistance of the First Division side.
Twenty-five shots as well as eleven corner kicks for Waterford told its own story though Stephen McMullan will be on many Christmas card lists with a save straight out of the top drawer to deny the Seagulls an equaliser late on.
Interim manager Matt Lawlor plumped for a ball playing eleven with Matt Smith making his first start of the season in place of Kacper Radkowski while Dean McMenamy was preferred in the midfield to Glenfield.
And from the opening whistle, the intentions of the Premier Division side were clear. A wave of early attacks was repelled by a Bray side marshalled by former Blue Kilian Cantwell as well as Harvey Warren alongside him who had also previously worn the blue shirt.
Waterford’s best of the early opportunities coming courtesy of Golden Boot winner Padraig Amond but the Blues’ captain headed wide of the target before they were rocked a minute later, when the threat posed by Bray was underlined with a goal in one of their first incursions deep into Waterford territory on eight minutes.
Max Murphy’s diagonal ball from left to right was intended for Conor Knight and though Kyle Whyte did manage to get a touch on it, a kind deflection back onto the Bray winger saw him through into the box, where he marked a century of appearances in the green jersey with a calm finish across McMullan and into the bottom corner.
With the top flight outfit stunned there was a sense of déjà vu but to their credit, the game plan was not altered and the belief in their ability to play attacking and attractive football never wavered.
Despite that early mistake, Whyte battled throughout down the left flank and his link play with the front line of Amond and Tommy Lonergan along with support from Ryan Burke saw him carve a number of good chances with crosses into the box but the back four held firm while goalkeeper Jimmy Corcoran was also well positioned to deny an equaliser.
When it arrived, it was from a set piece that came straight off the training ground with assistant manager Mark Yeats claiming the plaudits for its ingenuity. Amond played decoy for a short corner option with Conan Noonan before peeling back to allow McMenamy show for it. The move caught Bray cold and with a deft back heel from the midfielder, he played the ball back to Noonan who blasted home from the tightest of angles.
It was no more than Waterford deserved but to their credit, Bray battled away to stay in the game, though the safety of the dressing room was welcome relief as the opening half ended with Warren denying James Olayinka who picked up an Amond flick on and looked certain to smash the onion sack, but the young Wexford centre half somehow managed to block the effort.
From the outset of the resumption, Waterford continued their relentless quest for a lead goal, forcing four consecutive corners inside the opening two minutes and with the best opportunity falling the way of Noonan. A great run down the right followed by a cross from Lonergan flashed across the face of the goal, bypassing Amond but met by Noonan at the back post. However, right back Alain Kisenga somehow managed to get across to block the goal bound effort.
Cue a resurgence from the Seagulls as they threatened the Waterford goal with Rhys Bartley going close on 52 minutes before Paul Heffernan decided to introduce star striker Billy O Neill, who had missed the playoffs through suspension and returned early from a Florida holiday to help his side. And his introduction, made an immediate impact with his pace causing trouble on the flanks, resulting in a last-ditch foul on the edge of the area, that the youngster took himself. An excellent kick was curled around the wall, but McMullan spread himself well to save at his near post.
As Lonergan and Smith both tested Corcoran with efforts, it looked as if Waterford’s poor finishing might, once again, prove to be their undoing but the breakthrough arrived sixteen minutes from time with a wonderful piece of individual skill from substitute Glenfield who had entered the fray in place of McMenamy on the hour mark.
The Belfast man picked up a loose ball in the middle of the Bray half before skipping by a couple of tackles and racing to the top of the penalty area where he fired a great shot that flew past Corcoran into the opposite corner.
Attention then turned to defence and game management but Waterford fans were left wondering if it might not be enough and memories of late concessions permeated the thoughts of the 1300 strong travelling support.
Hearts were in mouths as the game drifted towards the final ten minutes as Justin Ferizaj – a scorer of late goals in three of his last four outings – curled a wonderful effort from the top of the penalty area but McMullan produced his best save of the season to dive to his left and palmed the ball away from the top corner.
Late substitutions from Bray saw them throw everything at their opponents to force extra time but as the game drifted into injury time, the Blues fans rose to their feet to start the “We are staying Up” chants.
There was some late drama with both sides reduced to ten men deep in injury time, after Harvey Warren’s rash challenge on Navajo Bakboord resulted in a red card but the Dutchman also received his marching orders for retaliation.
The final whistle was greeted with joy and jubilation though the relief across the team, management and supporters was palpable as Waterford live to fight another season in the top flight.
McMullan; Smith (Bakboord '76), Leahy, Horton, White, Burke; Olayinka, McMenamy (Glenfield '60), Noonan; Amond, Lonergan (Faal '85).
Corcoran; Murphy, Cantwell, Warren, C Knight (O'Neill '57); Bartley (R Knight '79), J Ferizaj, Curtis, Doyle; Kizenga (R Ferizaj 84’), Brennan (Armirall '85).
Kevin O'Sullivan (Cork)
