Waterford picked up a massive win on the road in Belfast on Sunday afternoon, as Dan Burke’s first-half goal secured the win against the reigning Northern Ireland champions in Blanchflower Stadium.
Ahead of kick-off, Gary Hunt made two changes from last week’s defeat against Athlone Town at the RSC, with Anna Gornell returning to the starting eleven, and Caoimhe Carley also coming in to make her first senior start after impressing in two substitute appearances to date this year
The first chance of the game came in unorthodox fashion, as Issy Walsh’s headed clearance from the penalty spot in her own box looped in the air before hitting Maeve Williams crossbar as the Blues cleared the resulting second-ball.
Moments later, Sofie Keenan forced Maeve Williams into a smart save from the edge of the Blues area, with Anna Gornell clearing a headed effort off the line as the hosts applied early pressure on the Blues defence.
At the other end, Fiana Bradley & Jess Lawler both tested the hands of Ellie Scott in the Glentoran goal inside the opening ten minutes, as Waterford began to settle into the action.
Lawler again forced Scott into a low save after clever build play between Gornell, Bradley & Shannon, as the latter found our left wing-back with space in the hosts box, with her low effort picked up by the Glentoran shotstopper.
On 16′, after recent pressure from the Blues, their efforts were rewarded when Dan Burke broke the deadlock with her first goal of the season. Fiana Bradley’s inswinging corner wasn’t dealt with, as Burke poked home into the top-corner to give the Blues a deserved lead in Belfast.
After the opening goal, the frantic pace of the game calmed down as the hosts saw most of the ball without creating any chances to trouble the Blues defence. Inside the final ten minutes of the first-half, the experienced Rachel Rogan has an effort on goal from 20 yards that Caoimhe Carley cleared as it went goal bound.
The final chance of the half fell to the Blues as Jess Lawler’s initial effort was blocked by a Glentoran hand, before Mia Lenihan saw her free-kick fly inches over Scott’s goal, as the Blues had to settle for a one-goal lead at the break.
Gracia Conway had the first effort of the second-half, as she cut in from the left before firing wide of Maeve Williams’ right-hand post, before Rogan tested the hands of Williams moments later, with the Blues captain level to the effort on goal.
Mia Moore forced Williams into a low save with 70 minutes played, as Gary Hunt brought fresh legs on from the bench, with Lauren Egbuloniu & Leah O’Donoghue introcuded for the final twenty minutes. Shortly after, Chloe Atkinson returned from injury as she replaced Jess Lawler in the Blues defence going into the final quarter of action – making her first appearance of the season after picking up an injury late into pre-season.
The second-half proved a closer affair, with goal-chances at a premium, as the Blues defended their goal strongly, not allowing the hosts into having any clear cut chances.
Inside the final minutes of action, Fiana Bradley raced through the Glentoran defence, as she looked to round Scott in the hosts goal, only to see the Glentoran net minder just about make contact with the ball to deny Bradley a deserved goal after an excellent performance leading the Blues line.
In the third minute of injury time, substitute Kelly Bailie saw her cross hit the Blues crossbar as the Blues were relieved to see the resulting ball go out for a goal kick, as Gary Hunt’s side picked up a hugely impressive three points on the road in Belfast to move us into joint second place in the Group D table going into our final group game away to Bohemians at the end of the this month.
Glentoran FC: Scott (GK), Loughran (85′ Timoney), Foy (C), Keenan, Caldwell, Kerr, Vance (85′ Bailie), Rogan (65′ Maguire), Conway, Weir (53′ McKearney), Moore (85′ Butler).
Waterford FC: Williams (GK) (C); Conroy, Carley, D. Burke, Doherty, Lawler (76′ Atkinson); Gornell (69′ O’Donoghue), Walsh (69′ Egbuloniu), Lenihan; Shannon, Bradley (90′ O’Brien).
