Worrying times ahead as lightning strikes twice at the Cross
James Olayinka in action against Cork City. Photo: INPHO
They say that lightning doesn’t strike twice, but that saying went totally out the window at Turner’s Cross on Friday last as Waterford FC crashed to another defeat against bottom side Cork City in their SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division clash in front of a 2,560 crowd at the Leeside venue.
Blues manager John Coleman made three changes to the side that lost disappointingly to Sligo Rovers at the RSC seven days previously, but despite having the better of the first-half changes, the continuous theme of conceding soft goals came to the fore.
After losing Andy Boyle in the warm-up through injury, where he was replaced by Rowan McDonald, the Blues donned black armbands in tribute to the late Ollie Horgan, who was remembered before kick-off with a minute's applause.
When the game did get underway, the visitors forced an early goal that saw keeper Conor Brann punch away Conan Noonan’s left-wing delivery before Seani Maguire breached the Waterford defence on three minutes, but an offside flag ruled his effort out.
New Blues signing Muhammadu Faal carved out a chance for himself on six minutes when he powered past two Cork City players before cracking in a right-footed shot from just inside the area, but his deflected effort was turned around the posts by the City netminder.
Faal was in the thick of the action once again on 11 minutes when he took a pass from Josh Miles before returning the ball to the fullback on the right-side of the penalty area, but his low right-footed shot was blocked away by Conor Brann, who was certainly the busier of the two keepers during the early stages.
Rowan McDonald conceded a free-kick 25 yards from goal on 24 minutes, which saw Evan McLaughlin stand over the ball, but his thunderous left-footed strike struck defender Ryan Burke, taking the ball over Stephen McMullan’s crossbar.
It was a wonderful ball from Kaedyn Kamara that released Alex Nolan clear on the right-side on 32 minutes, but he blazed over the bar before Padraig Amond dispossessed Kamara at the other end two minutes later to set up Conan Noonan, only for City keeper Brann to save from close-range.
Brann produced a stunning save to deny Amond the lead goal five minutes later. Noonan swung in a left-wing free that was headed clear by Darragh Crowley into the path of the Blues skipper, but the home keeper superbly kept out his first-time left-footed volley.
Assistant referee Emmett Dynan made a big call two minutes before the half-time break when he ruled that Seani Maguire’s free header after Kit Nelson’s right-wing free-kick was offside, with replays suggesting that it was a very tight decision from the official.
The home side struck the front two minutes into first-half added time when Matthew Murray easily got the better of Josh Mules in a battle down the right, and after his cross deflected off Kacper Radkowski into the path of Evan McLaughlin, he volleyed a left-footed shot past the despairing dive of keeper McMullan.
McLaughlin had the first chance of the second-half on 51 minutes when the attacker fired in a shot from distance that just cleared the crossbar before they were handed a second goal on a plate less than three minutes later.
Ryan Burke played a simple ball inside for Sam Glenfield, who saw Matthew Murray intercept his back pass looking for Rowan McDonald, and the number 25 drilled a low left-footed shot past McMullan whilst picking up an injury in the process that saw him replaced by his namesake Sean.
There were some strange decisions on the Waterford bench as chasing the game, Coleman and his assistant Danny Ventre opted to bring on defensive players in Jordan Rossiter and Trae Coyle, with striker Tommy Lonergan, who scored in the cup meeting between the sides, left sitting on the bench.
It was a reaction save from Stephen McMullan on 72 minutes that denied the hosts a third goal when Nelson and McLaughlin combined for the latter to cross for Freddie Anderson, who saw his first-time shot saved, with the rebound from the same player also blocked.
The Blues did have a big moment at the other end a minute later when Trae Coyle sent over a right-wing cross that saw Padraig Amond close-range saved by Conor Brann with Muhammadu Faal unable to convert the rebound.
Alex Nolan had two chances to increase the City lead soon afterwards, but he was twice denied by strong saves from McMullan as the Blues now look over their shoulders with Galway United and Sligo Rovers both within touching distance.
The relegation playoff spot is now becoming a stronger possibility by the game.
Brann; Anderson, Feely, Kamara, Kiernan; McLaughlin (Lyons 77), Crowley, Nelson, Fitzpatrick (Nolan 26); Maguire, M Murray (S Murray 56)
McMullan; Miles (Coyle 63), Radkowski, McDonald, Burke, Dempsey (Horton 84); Olayinka, Glenfield (Rossiter 63), Miles; Faal, Amond, Noonan.
Paul McLaughlin (Monaghan).
2,560
