Blues lose at home to Longford Town
Waterford United 2 - Longford Town 3
Waterford United lost at home for the third time in the league this season when Longford came out on top at the RSC on Friday night last. The Blues came from behind twice to level matters but they were rocked by a wonder goal from a visiting substitute seven minutes from full time.
The visitors took the lead after 6 minutes when a kick out from goalkeeper Hunt saw Lorcan Shannon flick the ball into the path of David O'Sullivan, who controlled the ball superbly on his chest before he beat keeper Matthew Connor with a fine right-footed effort low to the left corner of the net
The Blues levelled the contest on 24 minutes when Vinny Sullivan played a brilliant ball in for Jack Doherty, who did well to round the advancing Paul Hunt before slotting a left-footed shot to the back of an empty net.
A lapse in concentration from Waterford defender Gary Delaney gifted Longford Town their second goal on 35 minutes when his clearance straight to Town's version of Kevin O'Connor saw the winger release David O'Sullivan out on the left and he beat Matthew Connor with a left-footed drive to the far corner of the net.
It came as no real surprise that the hosts made a couple of changes at the half time break with Fitzgerald coming off in place of Gavin Kavanagh, while Willie John Kiely replaced Shane Murray in a bid to settle down the Blues but it was Stephen Rice that twice went close to increasing the lead, however he failed to do so.
The woodwork denied the hosts what would have been a stunning equalising goal on 63 minutes when full back Conor Whittle latched onto a loose clearance from Longford defender William Tyrrell but his cracking left-footed shot from 20 yards came crashing back off the underside of the crossbar with keeper Paul Hunt beaten.
Waterford regained parity with 11 minutes remaining in the game when Brian Nolan was fouled near the corner flag that saw Jack Doherty send the ball into the area and after Gavin Kavanagh touched across the area, it was Willie John Kiely that hammered the ball home from deep inside the penalty area.
There was to be a final twist to the game less than four minutes later when Longford scored a peach of a goal when Sean Russell laid the ball out to the left for second half substitute Etanda Nkololo, who gave keeper Matthew Connor little chance with a right-footed curling effort from 25 yards. Next up is a visit from Cobh Ramblers this Friday. On Tuesday next the Blues travel to play Shamrock Rovers and the following Friday it's a trip back to Dublin to play Shelbourne in the FAI Cup.
Waterford United: Connor, Barrett, Delaney, Fitzgerald (Kavanagh '46), Whittle, Doherty (Quilty '89), O'Connor, Nolan, Murray (Kiely '46), Drohan, V. Sullivan.
Longford Town: Hunt, Haverty, Tyrrell, Rice, Salmon (Russell '80), Shannon (Nkololo '75), Shaw, P. Sullivan, O'Sullivan (Hynes '88), Flynn, O'Connor
Referee: Sean Grant (Wexford)
