Waterford FC picked up an impressive three-points away to Bohemian FC at Dalymount Park on Friday night, as Padraig Amond’s first-half goal proved to be the difference between the sides.
Connor Parsons hit the deck under a challenge from Adam McDonnell on eight minutes, but referee Kevin O’Sullivan waved play on before Parsons cut in from the left minutes later to turn provider for Padraig Amond only for the attacker to be smothered out by the home defence.
Jordan Flores stepped over a dangerous free-kick for the hosts on 19 minutes only for his effort to go straight into the well-organised Waterford wall before Paddy Kirk sent over a left-wing ball onto the head of Dayle Rooney three minutes later, but his looping header cleared Sam Sargeant’s crossbar.
Maleace Asamoah won a free-kick out on the right on 26 minutes that saw Ben McCormack send a teasing ball to the back post, but skipper Darragh Leahy couldn’t divert his header on target before Dylan Connolly crossed for James Akintunde second later, who couldn’t get contact on his header.
Waterford struck the front with a fine goal five minutes later. Rowan McDonald played a short free with Robbie McCourt, who in turn played a neat passing move with Connor Parsons, before laying the ball off to Padraig Amond, and he slotted a left-footed shot to the far corner past a helpless Kacper Chorazka.
The home side were nearly gifted an equalising goal on 36 minutes when Dayle Rooney nipped Darragh Leahy of possession before racing one on one with keeper Sam Sargeant, but the netminder stood firm to make a brilliant stop to deny the centre forward.
Sargeant came to Waterford’s rescue to make a fantastic save in the final minute of the half to ensure that his side went in leading at the break when Dayle Rooney cracked in an effort from the top of the area, but the keeper got down well to save.
There was a big chance for Bohs to level the contest on 55 minutes when a quick-throw from Dylan Connolly sent James Akintunde clear on the right-side, and he put the ball on the head of James Clarke, but he somehow headed over
The Waterford defence began to live dangerously with Connolly get past his marker with ease four minutes later before putting in a teasing delivery to the back post, but Akintunde couldn’t get a vital touch on the ball.
It took some last ditch defending to deny the hosts the equaliser on 72 minutes when Dylan Connolly cut in from the right after showing some neat feet to tee up Luke Matheson, but Darragh Power got in a block that saw the resulting corner easily cleared.
Connor Parsons took the pressure off his side with a break of all his own doing a minute later when the winger skipped past two tackles out on the left to cut into the centre, but his deflected effort from distance was saved by keeper Kacper Chorazka.
As the Blues had to withstand some pressure from the hosts, there was a half-chance for Padraig Amond on 79 minutes when he peeled to the front post to get on the end of Maleace Asamoah’s delivery from the right, but keeper Chorazka saved at the near post.
Waterford ran down the clock that saw fourth official Declan Toland indicate six added minutes as they camped themselves in the Bohs half and when the final-whistle was sounded, it was the Blues fans that were celebrating in the 4342 attendance as they bounced back to winning ways with a deserved success.
BOHEMIANS: Chorazka; Matheson (Miller 80), Mills, Flores, Kirk; McDonnell (B McManus 76), J McManus (Byrne 64), Clarke, Connolly; Rooney (McDaid 64), Akintunde (Reinkort 76)
WATERFORD FC: Sargeant; Power, Horton, Leahy, McCourt (Burke 83); McDonald (O’Keeffe 68), McCormack; Asamoah (Radkowski 83), Macadam, Parsons; Amond.
Attendance: 4,342
