The Blues picked up a massive three points away to Derry City FC on Friday night, as first-half goals from Kyle White & Kacper Radkowski saw Keith Long’s side pick up their second win of the new campaign.
On a night to remember for the Blues travelling fans that made the trip up North, Long’s men battled extremely hard for the win as they bounced back to winning ways after a narrow defeat at the hands of Shelbourne on Friday last.
After Derry won the four meetings of the two sides last season, they were odds on to get the job done in their second home game of the campaign, but they were stunned by their opponents inside nine minutes.
Navajo Bakbooard’s throw-in on the right-side found the feet of Conan Noonan, who in turn worked the ball out wide left to Kyle White, and after a neat dummy onto his right-foot, he beat Derry keeper Brian Maher with a decent finish to the far corner.
Dom Thomas turned provider for Gavin Whyte with a right-wing cross on 15 minutes, but his effort went wide of the target before the same player volleyed past Stephen McMullan seconds later only for a flag to be raised for offside.
Referee Aaron O’Dowd waved away a penalty appeal when Kevin Holt appealed for a spot-kick after claiming that he was held back in the area three minutes before Adam O’Reilly crossed for Liam Boyce on the half-hour mark, but McMullan saved.
The Blues shocked the hosts with a second goal five minutes before the sound of the half-time whistle when Conan Noonan’s left-wing free-kick found Kacper Radkowski at the back post, and he beat keeper Maher at his near post with a crisp right-footed shot.
Liam Boyce couldn’t find the net a minute later after getting on Thomas’ delivery as Waterford went in with their tails up at the break, but knew that they still have work on their hands in the second-half.
Thomas whipped in a left-footed cross that found the head of Whyte early in the second period, but keeper McMullan saved before Mark Connolly fired over the bar with a great chance on 54 minutes after Carl Winchester’s knockdown in the area.
Waterford had a chance to extend their lead sixty seconds later when captain Padraig Amond set up Noonan with a neat pass, but his goalbound effort was superbly cleared off the line by Kevin Holt.
The home side had an opportunity to get back into the game from the penalty spot on 65 minutes when they were awarded a penalty after Bakboord was judged to have fouled by Ben Doherty, and Pat Hoban sent McMullan the wrong way from 12 yards.
Brian Maher was lucky to escape with just a yellow card for handling outside the area with Amond clear on goal soon afterwards, and Conan Noonan’s free-kick just cleared the crossbar.
Pat Hoban couldn’t direct his header after Ben Doherty’s cross on target before Robbie Benson had a glorious chance nine minutes from time when he somehow failed to hit the target after Adam O’Reilly’s cross as the Blues held out for a massive result.
DERRY CITY FC: Maher; Harkin (Todd 60), Connolly, Holt, Ferguson (Doherty 60); Winchester, O’Reilly, Whyte (Benson 60), Thomas (Hoban 60), Boyce (Patton 73), Duffy.
WATERFORD FC: McMullan; Bakboord, Radkowski, Boyle, Leahy, White (Glenfield 74); McMenamy, McDonald, Noonan; Amond, Lonergan.
