League Preview: Cabinteely -v- Waterford United

Bottom of the table Cabinteely host sixth placed Waterford United in Stradbrook on Friday night hoping to reduce the ten point deficit between the sides. Kick-off 7:45pm.

CABINTEELY

Cabinteely are looking to beat Waterford United for the first time since the only time they managed it, which was back in March 2015. The club's all-time top goalscorer John McKeown netted the only goal in a 1-0 win and they'll be hoping the current pretender to the throne can find the net on Friday night.

Joe Doyle netted four goals against Athlone Town at the start of the month to take his tally for the season to five and move within one goal of McKeown's six goal record. The 19 year old didn't feature the following week in the 4-1 defeat to UCD, but played in the 2-1 loss to Shelbourne last week.

All of Doyle's goals to date have come against Athlone and he will be eager to break his duck against the other teams in the league, starting with Waterford. Meanwhile, Eddie Gormley will just be praying for some better luck than that which befell his side during last week's game against Shels.

With very little danger in the 15^th minute, Oscar Brennan played the ball back to his goalkeeper Michael Kelly from the left-back position. The ball rolled under Kelly's foot, but the Cabo stopper seemed to have done enough to recover and slide clear off the line.

However, the assistant linesman flagged for what was given as an own goal against Brennan and Cabo fell behind. They never recovered as Shels striker James English would double his side's lead before the interval, with Mark Slater's second-half goal rendered a consolation.

Having briefly come off the foot of the table following their big win over Athlone, the First Division's lowest scorers find themselves propping up the rest again and will need a result against Waterford if they are to hope to avoid finishing bottom for the second season running.

WATERFORD UNITED

Waterford United travel to South Dublin looking to end a three-game losing streak. July hasn't been kind to Roddy Collins' men as they have suffered away defeats to Drogheda United (2-0) and UCD (2-1) as well as a 5-1 demolition by runaway First Division leaders Limerick in the RSC.

The Blues haven't been able to find the consistency required to challenge for the play-off spots with those three losses preceded by back-to-back wins Athlone Town (3-0) and Shelbourne (2-0), albeit with the mid-season break punctuating those victories.

The ironic thing is that Waterford are just one win away from bettering their 2015 points tally – they finished seventh on 21 points last season, just one point above Friday's opponents. And given their overall record against Cabo, this provides the perfect opportunity for Collins' men to draw level on 22 points with fifth placed Shelbourne, who host Drogheda United on the same night.

Waterford have lost just once in six games against Cabinteely, picking up four wins and a draw. They entered the 2016 season with something of a hoodoo at Stradbrook Road having lost and drawn there last season, but they broke that duck with a comfortable 2-0 victory back in March.

The Blues also managed a two-goal margin of victory in the other meeting between the sides this season, a 3-1 win at the RSC in May. Philly Gorman netted once in each game and will be hoping to add to his eight league goals this Friday.

However, another of Waterford's goalscorers against Cabo this season, David O'Leary (who netted in the March fixture) misses out this time through suspension for accumulating five yellow cards. Alan Byrne is also suspended after he was sent off just nine minutes into his debut against UCD last week.

Referee: Paula Brady.

MATCH STATS

Cabinteely are the second lowest scorers of league goals across all 20 League of Ireland clubs in 2016. They have scored 14 goals, the same amount as Premier Division side Longford Town. Only Bray Wanderers have scored less than either with 12.

Cabinteely and Athlone Town have both won just two league games this season. Of all League of Ireland clubs, only Longford Town have won less (just once).

Waterford United have conceded 41 league goals this season, the most in the First Division. Of all League of Ireland clubs, only Longford Town have conceded more (44).

Cabinteely went unbeaten against Waterford United in Stradbrook last season, winning 1-0 in March and drawing 1-1 in July. The Blues wouldn't be denied forever, though, and picked up a 2-0 win in Blackrock in March of this season, their first ever three points away to Cabo.

BETTING

Cabinteely 7/2; Draw 5/2; Waterford United 8/11.

PREDICTION

Cabinteely 1-2 Waterford United.

CABINTEELY

Injured: Unknown.

Doubtful: Unknown.

Suspended: None.

WATERFORD UNITED

Injured: Sean Byrne (1989), Alan O'Connor.

Doubtful: Unknown.

Suspended: Alan Byrne, David O'Leary.