Waterford FC returned to winning ways with a powerful 6-1 victory over Finn Harps at the RSC, as Killian McHale reports…
Prior to the game, a minutes applause was held in memory of Joe Delaney, Karolis Chvedukas & Billy Rockett, who all were laid to rest in recent weeks. All three had big connections with Waterford FC.
Despite the visitors threatening early on when Michael Harris fired into the hands of Paul Martin inside the opening sixty-seconds, it was the Blues who opened the scoring when Connor Parsons curled home perfectly from 25-yards after just three minutes to give Keith Long’s side the lead, having picked up the ball on the half-way line.
Romeo Akachukwu – on his first league start for the club – forced Harps keeper Hiemar into a smart save just moments later, before Ryan Burke had an effort of his own that was stuck into the hands of Hiemar on the tenth-minute mark.
The Blues continued to put the put the pressure on the Harps defence, and deservedly doubled their lead, when Connor Parsons netted his – and Waterford’s – second of the game. A Barry Baggley corner found Conor on the goal-line, who helped the ball into the Harps net via his thigh after 21 minutes.
Play had only just resumed when the Blues made it three, when Ronan Coughlan fired home from close range after Parsons won possession inside the Blues final third, after just 24 minutes.
Despite all the the home pressure, Harps were given a lifeline when Sean O’Donnell was fouled inside the penalty area, before Harps captain Ryan Flood fired home the resulting spot kick to give the visitors a glimmer of hope.
The game settled down after a frantic opening half an hour, with the sides heading into the half-time break three goals to one.
Both sides shared possession inside the opening minutes of the second-half, before Keith Long’s side found the back of the net once more through Ronan Coughlan. Shane Griffin intercepted the ball on the half way line, who found Baggley, before Baggley in-turn found Coughlan who twisted & turned beyond the Harps defence and eventually firing low beyond Hiemar to give the Blues a three-goal cushion once more.
Both sides made a host of changes, with Waterford bringing on Eddie Nolan & Dean Larkin mid-way through the half. And after 77 minutes, it was the experienced Nolan who extended the lead further, tapping home from close range after Coughlan’s initial free-kick was saved by Hiemar.
The Blues didn’t stop the scoring here, however, as Roland Idowu got his name on the scoresheet when late-substitute Thomas Oluwa found Idowu in space in the Harps box, before finding the bottom corner to round off a fine evening in the RSC on a 6-1 scoreline.
Next up for the Blues is a friendly game on Tuesday night, as Waterford welcome Fleetwood Town FC to the RSC, with kick-off set for 7pm. Season Ticket Holders go free, with tickets on sale for as little as €5 for adults.
Waterford FC: Martin (GK); O’Keeffe, Phillips © (64’ Nolan), Cantwell (82’ Queally), Burke (82’ Mansfield); Griffin (73’ Larkin), Baggley, Akachukwu; Parsons, Coughlan (82’ Oluwa), Idowu.
Finn Harps FC: Heimer (GK); McCallion, Baba, Farrar (79’ O’Kane); Porter, Duffy (51’ McLaughlin), Flood ©, Harris (51’ Mashigo), McMonagle (51’ Jordan); Da Silva (61’ Johnston), O’Donnell.
Image Credit: Ken Sutton
