Young Blues lose at home again
Waterford United 0 - Finn Harps 2
Waterford United were hoping to record their first league win since June 12th when they defeated Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght but for the second week running they lost two nil at home, this time to the visitors from Donegal Finn Harps. The young home team did have a lot of possession during the course of the game but they rarely troubled the Harps goalkeeper Conor Winn. The team will not have a game this weekend due to FAI Cup games but the following week they must travel to play promotion chasing Galway FC. This latest defeat means that the Blues have now taken just two points from a possible 24 during the last eight games. Two experienced players, John Frost and Vinny Sullivan returned for this game but poor defending cost the hosts on this occasion and the team continues to move in the wrong direction. The young team are certainly learning the hard way.
Finn Harps had the first effort of the game on ten minutes when Pat McCann sent in a right-wing that found the head at the near post for Carel Tiofack but his header took a deflection that went the wrong side of the target with keeper Matthew Connor scrambling across the goal to save.
The Blues launched their first attack less than two minutes later when Ross Fitzpatrick played the ball down the right wing for Nathan Boyle, who did well to outpace his marker but his low right-footed shot from inside the penalty area was well held by Finn Harps keeper Conor Winn.
Finn Harps broke the deadlock with their next attack on 16 minutes when left-winger Jordan Loftus picked up possession of the ball out on the left side before running at the Blues defence and he curling a beautiful right-footed effort from 15 yards past the helpless dive of keeper Connor.
Things got even better for Finn Harps as they doubled their lead nine minutes before the half time break when the Blues defence failed to deal with a ball down the right and Ciaran Coll sent in a cross where Jordan Loftus was on hand to notch his second goal with a close range finish to an empty net.
The crossbar denied the home side a foothold into the game with the first offering of the second period on 61 minutes when Ethan Boyle picked up the ball on the right side of the penalty area but his effort went over the head of keeper Conor Winn but the ball came crashing back off the underside of the bar.
There's no doubting that the second half was one of limited chances and it was Conor Whittle that brought a save out of keeper Winn minutes later as the home side tried to get back into the game but the netminder saved his effort from the left with ease.
Sean McCarron did have a chance to stretch the Finn Harps lead with two minutes remaining in the contest when he took control on the edge of the penalty area but his right-footed shot was well saved by Blues keeper Matthew Connor. Sadly the defeats are mounting up steadily for this young team and they need a victory quickly to boost their confidence.
WATERFORD UNITED: Connor, Whittle, Corcoran, Fitzgerald, Frost, Nolan, Fitzpatrick (Rowe '58), Sullivan, Boyle, Coad (Breslin '77), Walsh (A. O'Connor '58)
FINN HARPS: Winn, McGroary, Coll, Cowan, McMonigle, Mailey, Tiofack (Hassett '83), McCann, McCarron (McDaid '90), McHugh, Loftus (O'Callaghan '70)
Referee: Sean Grant (Wexford)
