Wexford next for struggling Blues
Two teams who are going through completely different stages of their season will come head to head at the RSC on Friday night next. Wexford Youths cracked an incredible seven goals past Cabinteely on Friday night last and that goal feast took them on to 15 points on the league table. The Blues on the other hand drew a blank once again in Athlone and they remain rooted to the bottom of the table, two points adrift of Cobh Ramblers. It is worth noting that the seven goals scored by Wexford last weekend is one more than Waterford have scored in total to date this term. Another interesting fact is that the only game the Blues won this season was against Wexford in Ferrycarrig Park back in early March so hopefully history will repeat itself on Friday. It may do because football can throw up strange results like that from time to time. Tommy Griffin made five changes from the team that lost three nil to UCD the previous week and although it was a vastly improved performance sadly there was no cigar following the 90 minutes of play.
It was Athlone Town that forced Waterford United on the back foot in the early stages of the first half with the opening chance arriving on 12 minutes when Stephen Dunne's left-wing cross was headed into the path of Gary Burke but his low shot was superbly kept out by a fine Matthew Connor save.
Former Blues player Mario Chindea was off the mark with a free kick from distance two minutes later before the home side created another half chance on 16 minutes when winger Derek Doyle let fly with a shot from 25 yards however his effort was deflected out for a corner kick off defender Patrick Fitzgerald.
A good move from the Blues could have yielded the breakthrough goal six minutes before the sound of the half time whistle when Ross Fitzpatrick sent over a cross from the right that found the head of Jack Doherty at the back post but his effort was blocked out by defender Stephen Quigley for a corner kick.
It has to be said that the Blues started the second half on the front foot like they did on the road against UCD and they could have struck the front on 52 minutes when Mark Walsh and Sean Hurley linked up down the right channel before the latter crossed for Jack Doherty but he volleyed a right-footed effort from 12 yards over the crossbar from a great position.
At this stage of the game it was inpossible to predict who would score first because the two teams were rather timid when it came to the final third of the park but on 75 minutes the home side answered that question.
Gary Burke did really well down the right channel to get the better of the Waterford defence before crossing the ball into the penalty area and it was midfielder Gavin Boyne that powered a header past Matthew Connor from deep inside the six yard box.
Anthony McAlavey had a chance to level the tie for the Blues from a free kick on 83 minutes but his effort flashed inches over after Glenn Hawe was fouled 25-yards out before the woodwork denied the hosts a second goal three minutes from time when Garbhan Coughlan's effort crashed back off the underside of the bar.
Athlone Town. Shane Cusack, Steohen Quigley, Stephen Dunne, Brian Shortall, Aidan Collins (Michael Brown `88), Robbie Gaul, Marco Chindea (Garbhan Coughlan `67), Gavin Boyne, Sam O'Connor, Gary Burke, Deredk Doyle.
Waterford United. Matthew Connor, Ross Fitzpatrick, Shaun Corcoran, Craig Burns (Shane Dineen `38), Patrick Fitzgerald, Anthony McAlavey, Sean Hurley, Brian Nolan, Willie John Kiely, Mark Walsh (Dean Reidy `72), Jack Doherty (Glen Hawe `60
Referee: Adriano Reale.
