Padraig Amond netted a sensational second-half treble that brought Waterford FC back from two goals down to win a Thursday night thriller in front of the TV cameras as the Blues made it back-to-back home wins in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division in an incredible comeback against Drogheda United.
When it looked as if goals from Adam Foley and Zishim Bawa had put the visitors in cruise control, the hosts flicked on a switch that saw Amond notch a 13-minute hat-trick before Darragh Power put the icing on the cake with a fourth as the 2423 attendance went wild at the RSC.
It was a remarkable performance from the Blues after going two-nil behind, but they kept their composure with Amond producing a display of quality of finishing that was paramount to success.
Maleace Asamoah had a chance to score his 7th league goal of the season on 17 minutes when the Fleetwood Town loanee, took a pass from Robbie McCourt before trying his luck with a first-time right-footed shot that Andrew Wogan saved.
It was pure direct from Drogheda that saw the Louth side strike the front on three minutes. Keeper Wogan launched a goal-kick that split the Blues backline that saw Adam Foley take full advantage to lob the ball over the head of Sam Sargeant from 14 yards.
Foley nearly put through his own net at the other end on 24 minutes when he tried to clear a Ben McCormack right-wing free, but his header just cleared the far post before Drogheda full-back Evan Weir came to his sides rescue a minute later with a super clearance.
Rowan McDonald looped the ball into the centre of the penalty area after McCormack’s left-footed corner broke into his path that saw Padraig Amond try his luck with an ambitious overhead kick that was cleared off the line with Asamoah blazing the rebound high over.
The second-half was less than thirty seconds old when Drogheda doubled their lead. Adam Foley done the spadework on the right to feed the ball into the feet of Z Bawa, and he curled an impressive right-footed effort to the top corner past Sam Sargeant.
It was the top of the woodwork that denied the visitors a third goal on 54 minutes. Darragh Markey raced at the Waterford defence through the centre before slipping it out to the left for Bawa, but his left-footed angled effort struck the bar.
Waterford got themselves back into the game just sixty seconds later with a move that saw Christie Pattisson send Ben McCormack into the clear down the right, and his right-wing delivery to the near post saw Padraig Amond power a header past keeper Andrew Wogan.
A sensational move that saw with Amond ended with the striker levelling the tie for his 7th of the season on 59 minutes. His initial header to Ben McCormack saw the latter return the favour before the centre forward slipped the ball to Asamoah, who in turn squared into the centre for Amond’s second.
The strong home crowd of 2,423 couldn’t believe their eyes as Waterford and Amond put them in front on 68 minutes. McCormack sent in a free-kick that was partially headed clear for Dean McMenamy, who cracked in a 25-yarder that saw the hat-trick hero put out a foot to steer it to the left-corner.
A most incredible second-half saw the home side grab a fourth goal on 74 minutes. Maleace Asamoah dinked in a right-wing ball that wasn’t dealt with by the Drogheda defence, and Darragh Power capitalised to net his first goal of the campaign.
It has to be said that there was no comeback from the visitors after the local lad put the icing on the cake for a brilliant win for the Blues as they can now look forward to another home game against Bohemians on Friday night.
Waterford FC: Sargeant; Power, Horton, Leahy, McCourt; McDonald (90′ O’Keeffe), McCormack (86′ Akachukwu), Macadam (5′ McMenamy); Asamoah (86′ Parsons), Amond, Pattisson (90′ Evans).
Drogheda United FC: Wogan; Weir, Webster, Cann; Brennan (63′ Gallagher), Bawa, Markey, Foley, Deegan; Pierrot (67′ Cailloce), Heaney.
Attendance: 2,423
