Waterford United 2 - 0 Mervue United

Waterford United secured fifth place in the First Division table with a 2-0 victory at home to Mervue United on Friday night at the RSC. Goals from Seamus Long and a stunning strike from Dwayne Wilson handed the home side a deserved win.

The home side had the first chance of the game after five minutes as Gary Dunphy found Paul Walsh on the right wing and he whipped in a splendid cross but James Casserley rose highest to head clear under pressure.

Mervue United had a chance of their own five minutes later. Dave O’Brien played a long ball from the back that found Pat Hoban but defender Kenny Browne got back to make the tackle, though it looked a little clumsy from the centre half.

Paul Phelan was next to challenge but his close range effort from Walsh’s deep cross didn’t test Ger Hanley. Michael Coady should have opened the scoring, but after good work from Phelan and Walsh, he somehow fired over the crossbar from four yards.

The away side had another good chance seven minutes before half time. Etanda Nkololo swung in the corner but Noel Varley headed over the crossbar.

The opening goal arrived on the stroke of half time. Seamus Long played the ball to Sean Maguire, continued his run, and received the ball before controlling and poking the ball past the helpless Hanley.

Mervue United had a great chance to equalise three minutes into the second half. Hoban was put through one-on-one but Burns closed the angle and got a touch on the ball. More nice play from the Blues saw Maguire slip the ball into Paul Walsh, he dummied it allowing Phelan to race into the box before firing at Hanley from a tight angle.

Nkololo caused problems down the left shortly afterwards and cut inside Carey but Blues keeper Burns came out to block. The ball rebounded toward goal but Browne got back to clear off the line. Sean Maguire’s influence grew in the second half as he played in Coady one-on-one with the keeper but he fired his shot wide, and minutes later Maguire shot just wide from the edge of the box. David Breen was next to have a strike but he couldn’t hit the target.

The home side sealed the points with five minutes left in superb style. Paul Phelan fired in a deep cross from the left wing that found substitute Dwayne Wilson at the back post and he fired a stunning unstoppable volley into the top corner of Hanley’s goal from a tight angle.

Waterford United: Burns, Coady, Browne, Breen, Carey; Phelan, Long, Dunphy (J. Keane 82), Walsh (Wilson 82), G. Keane, Maguire (McGrath 89).

Subs not used: C. Keane, Doherty, Barron, Potter.

Booked: Gary Keane.

Mervue United: Hanley, O’Brien, Farrell, Casserley (Elwood 85), Conneely, McEntee, Molloy, Varley, Goldbey (Lee 66), Hoban (Ludden 76), Nkololo.

Subs not used: Crehan, Murphy.

Booked: Jason Molloy.

Referee: Sean Grant

Official Attendance: 330

Man of the Match: Sean Maguire. Sublime one-two to set up the goal and overall great performance.