Henderson happy with Blues response
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Waterford United manager Stephen Henderson declared himself happy following his side’s 3-1 home win against Finn Harps on Saturday night.
The Blues had squandered a 2-0 half-time lead against Monaghan United the week before and Henderson had looked for his players to respond and get back to winning ways.
Goals from Vinny Sullivan and a Paul Murphy brace were enough for the win with Kevin McHugh grabbing a late consolation for the visitors.
“We had to respond from last week”, Henderson told Extratime after the game. “When you go two goals up and you lose 4-2, then you have to take a look at the players and see what way they respond to that. I said in the programme notes that we’re not perfect, but we’re building. We have some young players and some experienced ones - sometimes it doesn’t work for us like last week in Monaghan. But if they respond to the negative stuff in the right way, then they have a bright future ahead of them and tonight they showed what they are about.”
The much needed win pleased Henderson but he was quick to criticise the conceding of McHugh’s goal and the missed chances from his side, knowing how tight it is at the top of the First Division table.
“We won and that’s the most important thing; some of it was good, some of it wasn’t. Very difficult conditions with a gale force wind but we tried to do it the right way and at times we were very good. I was really disappointed with the conceding of the goal because goal difference could play a part. We created an awful lot of chances, scored three great goals, but it could have had six of seven.”
Paul Murphy came into the team for the suspended Willie John Kiely and his two goals are sure to give manager Stephen Henderson plenty to think about with his team selection on Kiely’s return. The 19-year-old scored two goals of fine quality and set up the opening goal for Vinny Sullivan with Henderson was quick to praise the youngster.
“That’s the type of role that suits Paul”, he said. “He’s a very clever player, lovely first touch on the ball and great vision. For the goal I think he must have been watching Vinny [Sullivan] on two occasions before it, but he more or less showed Vinny how to do it, but Vinny was great tonight as well. All over the pitch we were very good and worked very hard, but I still think we can get a bit better to be honest.”
With three games remaining, Waterford United's play-off position is in their own hands and with Longford Town next to come, it presents an unwanted headache. Down through the years, Longford have been the Blues bogey side in Cup competitions. Longford defeated Waterford 2-1 in the FAI Cup already this season as well as 1-0 in the league, both in Flancare Park.
“Historically in the cup they tend to get the better of us, but in the league I think we’re okay. They are the type of team that will raise their game and we’re going to have to be prepared for that. It’s going to be a very tough match because they’ll raise their game for us”, Henderson concluded.
“We had to respond from last week”, Henderson told Extratime after the game. “When you go two goals up and you lose 4-2, then you have to take a look at the players and see what way they respond to that. I said in the programme notes that we’re not perfect, but we’re building. We have some young players and some experienced ones - sometimes it doesn’t work for us like last week in Monaghan. But if they respond to the negative stuff in the right way, then they have a bright future ahead of them and tonight they showed what they are about.”
The much needed win pleased Henderson but he was quick to criticise the conceding of McHugh’s goal and the missed chances from his side, knowing how tight it is at the top of the First Division table.
“We won and that’s the most important thing; some of it was good, some of it wasn’t. Very difficult conditions with a gale force wind but we tried to do it the right way and at times we were very good. I was really disappointed with the conceding of the goal because goal difference could play a part. We created an awful lot of chances, scored three great goals, but it could have had six of seven.”
Paul Murphy came into the team for the suspended Willie John Kiely and his two goals are sure to give manager Stephen Henderson plenty to think about with his team selection on Kiely’s return. The 19-year-old scored two goals of fine quality and set up the opening goal for Vinny Sullivan with Henderson was quick to praise the youngster.
“That’s the type of role that suits Paul”, he said. “He’s a very clever player, lovely first touch on the ball and great vision. For the goal I think he must have been watching Vinny [Sullivan] on two occasions before it, but he more or less showed Vinny how to do it, but Vinny was great tonight as well. All over the pitch we were very good and worked very hard, but I still think we can get a bit better to be honest.”
With three games remaining, Waterford United's play-off position is in their own hands and with Longford Town next to come, it presents an unwanted headache. Down through the years, Longford have been the Blues bogey side in Cup competitions. Longford defeated Waterford 2-1 in the FAI Cup already this season as well as 1-0 in the league, both in Flancare Park.
“Historically in the cup they tend to get the better of us, but in the league I think we’re okay. They are the type of team that will raise their game and we’re going to have to be prepared for that. It’s going to be a very tough match because they’ll raise their game for us”, Henderson concluded.
About Brendan White
Brendan White is Extratime News Editor and is responsible for the news section of Extratime.ie. Brendan also covers matches in Dublin and Waterford. You can contact Brendan on twitter @whitebrendan. View Full Profile