League Report: Waterford United 1 - 1 Cobh Ramblers

Waterford United and Cobh Ramblers played out a dispiriting 1-1 draw at the RSC on Friday night. After a first half which will live long in infamy, a header apiece from Willie John Kiely and Rob Waters earned both sides a share of the spoils, with Kiely also missing a last-gasp penalty.

Recently-installed Cobh boss Stephen Henderson was returning to his old stomping ground, having enjoyed a relatively successful spell in charge on Suirside which ended acrimoniously. His new side just about edged the early exchanges, though without any tangible benefit.

A Stephen Kenny snapshot after 24 minutes was the first real sight of goal for either team, and the next didn’t arrive until the stroke of half-time. Stephen McCarthy surged into the area for the visitors before firing low and wide via Shane Dineen’s shinbone.

The second forty-five began in much more promising fashion. After just three minutes of play, the lively Kenny marginally failed to connect with a low cross from the left which evaded Matthew Connor in the Waterford goal.

After three more minutes, the home side had taken the lead at the other end. Anthony McAlavey’s floated free-kick from half-way was punched straight up in the air by David Browne and Kiely reacted well to rise highest and flick the ball under the crossbar.

This flurry of activity lasted well past the hour mark, and had been well earned by the few hundred spectators braving the chilling winds. On 61 minutes, Waters was played in beyond the Waterford back-line and raced towards goal, before pulling his finish wide of Connor’s far post.

A minute later, Jack Doherty’s free-kick was turned agonisingly wide by Dylan Mernagh for the hosts. Cobh had shown enough threat to keep Waterford anxious about their slim lead and on 68 minutes they delivered. Ryan Goldsmith found himself in space on the left flank and crossed for Waters who, with all the time in the world, was able to rise and nod his team level.

That respite from tedium proved brief, as the game returned once more to the aimless drudgery of the first half and seemed destined to peter out quietly until a dramatic final two minutes manifested quite unexpectedly. In stoppage time, Waterford won possession high up the pitch and worked the ball to Shane Nolan, who was all alone inside the box. The midfielder cut inside Browne, who hauled him to the deck and the loose ball was thrashed home by McAlavey.

The jubilant cheers of the home support were cut short however by the realisation that the referee had already pointed to the spot. With 92 minutes played, Kiely stepped up to win the game for Waterford but dragged his penalty wide, summing up in one act the utter despair of the previous hour and a half.

Henderson jumped for joy in his technical area to see his side let off the hook to claim a good point on the road while Blues boss, Tommy Griffin, was left in furious disbelief that his side still remain in search of their first home win of the season.

Waterford United: Matthew Connor; Shaun Corcoran, Craig Burns, Shane Dineen, Dylan Mernagh; Shane Nolan, Anthony McAlavey, Brian Nolan (Ethan Boyle 80), Dean Reidy (Glen Hawe 83); Jack Doherty (Sean Hurley 77), Willie John Kiely.
Subs not used: Robert Birdsall (gk), Thomas Croke, Anthony O’Donnell, Greg Peel.

Booked: Corcoran (72).

Cobh Ramblers: David Browne; Andrew Bhandarkar, Brendan Frahill, Kevin Mulcahy, Eoghan Murphy; Shane O’Connor, Graham McCarthy, Steven McCarthy, Ryan Goldsmith; Stephen Kenny (Rob Lynch 82), Rob Waters (Jonathan Creamer 85).
Subs not used: Steven Hickey (gk), Ross McCarthy, Kynan Rocks, Ronan Stanton.

Bookeds: G McCarthy (35), S O’Connor (50), Lynch (86), Browne (90+1).

Referee: Michael O’Connor (Kildare)

Attendance: 382

Extratime.ie man of the match: Rob Waters (Cobh Ramblers)