League Report: Cobh Ramblers 3 - 1 Waterford United

Cobh Ramblers kept their hopes of reaching the end of year playoff alive tonight defeating Waterford United in St. Colman’s Park.

Two first half goals from deadly striker duo Rob Lehane and Connor Ellis put Ramblers on their way to a convincing half time lead.

Waterford pulled a goal back early in the second half through Darragh Keane which gave them hope of getting something from the game but Ellis fired his second penalty of the game past Hussey to allow Ramblers a two goal victory.

The home side were unchanged from last week’s 1-0 victory away to UCD, whereas the visitors Waterford United made one change, with Owen Wall replaced by Dean Welsh.

Cobh Ramblers who knew before the game tonight that a win over their Munster neighbours would narrow the gap on third placed UCD to a solitary point after the student’s had dropped five points in the space of a week.

Ellis who has been a big success with Ramblers since joining them from neighbours Cork City on loan in July, nearly netted his fifth goal of the season after 13 minutes but the Bantry native pulled the ball wide.

At the other end of the field Welsh saw a header from distance saved by Paul Hunt.

Yet the home side was always well on top and they took the lead on 21 minutes through Lehane.  Ellis held the ball up well at the edge of the box before passing to Lehane who took a touch before powering the ball into the top corner with the aid of the crossbar much to the delight of the loud home support in attendance.

Lehane dragged a shot wide on 24 minutes as Ramblers saw about further extending the lead, next up Ellis saw a header blocked for a corner.

But it was only delaying the inevitable and as Lehane and Ellis linked up with some neat passing before O’Leary bundled over Ellis in the box. Ellis stepped up and lashed it straight down the middle giving James Hussey no chance.

At the start of the second half, Waterford pulled a goal back through Keane on 48 minutes when Hunt failed to hold Welsh’s cross only for Keane to profit. The goal appeared to stun the home side as the visitors had the better of the next 10 minutes but the best they could muster was a Welsh effort straight at Hunt.

Hussey made a superb save for Waterford on 61 minutes to keep them in this tie when he got down low to deny Lehane from point blank range following Fleming’s pass across the six yard box. This was repeated again four minutes later when he blocked Eoin McGreevy from close range.

McGreevy fired over from outside the box on 70 minutes as the game was now becoming a tight affair with the defences on top despite the efforts of both team’s attackers.

O’Leary had a free kick on the edge of the box but much to the home supports delight the former Cork City and Limerick player could only fire straight at Hunt.

But the longer the game went on, the more one felt that they would grab an equaliser; on 76 minutes Welsh from distance brought a great save out of Hunt who palmed the ball out for a corner and then two minutes later Cory Galvin saw a free kick go over against his former club.

Yet any hope of an equaliser was gone on 85 minutes. Goalkeeper Hussey felled substitute Jonathan Creamer and referee Michael O’Connor pointed to the spot. Ellis did the duties again dispatching his fourth penalty of the season for Ramblers on 86 minutes.

Cobh Ramblers: Paul Hunt; Ben O’Riordan, Kevin Mulcahy (Cian Kingston 45), Chris McCarthy, Ian Mylod; Charlie Fleming, Garry Comerford, Craig Donnellon, Eoin McGreevy (Anthony O’Donnell 75); Rob Lehane (Jonathan Creamer 81), Connor Ellis.

Subs not used: Darren Murphy, Stephen Christopher, Kyle McNamara, Matthew Whelan

Yellow Cards: McCarthy (38), McGreevy (54), Mylod (78)

Red Cards: None

Waterford United: James Hussey; Roy Butler, Ian Sinnott, Davy O’Leary, Dylan Maguire; David Osario (Robbie Buckley 46),( Glen Waters 50); Jake Mooney, Darragh Keane, Corry Galvin; Dean Welsh, Sean Noble.

Subs not used: Matthew Sheen

Yellow Cards: O’Leary (28), Keane (72), Hussey (85)

Red Cards: None

Referee: Michael O’Connor

Attendance: 440 (estimate)

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Connor Ellis (Cobh Ramblers)