Waterford United 0 - 0 Athlone Town

• Brendan White
• Wed, May 05 2010


Waterford United and Athlone Town played out a scoreless draw in the RSC on Tuesday evening in a game that lacked quality in the final third throughout.

Neither side grabbed the incentive early on in this game but Waterford began strongest down the left wing. Liam Kearney passed to Waters, who in turn played a lovely chip back to Kearney who’s first time cross was cleared at the near post.

Athlone Town nearly grabbed the opening goal of the game. Benson played the ball to Watson who rounded Blues keeper Konopka but his cross was easily cleared.

Waters and Kearney linked up on 12 minutes and again on 14 minutes, but again the final ball let Waterford down.

On the half hour the controversial moment of the first half arrived. George O’Callaghan’s cross from the right wing was clearly handled in the penalty area. As the referee’s assistant flagged for the handball, referee Jim McKell booked O’Callaghan and made the midfielder retake the free kick, much to the amazement of everyone in the ground.

Seven minutes later and Waterford almost opened the scoring. O’Callaghan’s cross was headed toward goal but Bennion pulled off a great save.

Five minutes before half time, Bennion was again called into action. Sullivan played a neat ball to Grincell, he swivelled in the box and shot low into the corner but Bennion got down superbly to his right to claw the effort away for a corner.

Athlone almost take the lead five minutes into the second half. Richie O'Hanlon crossed to Gordon Watson who headed low to the near post. Blues keeper Chris Konopka and the post prevented the ball from sneaking in.

Almost immediately, Waterford hit Athlone on the break following an Athlone corner. Stand in centre back Paul McCarthy broke clear and laid the ball off to Vinny Sullivan, who pushed the ball into Liam Kearney’s path. He broke away and crossed to the back post but Timmy Purcell’s shot rolled across goal and wide of the far post.

Waterford began to take control and went close twice in succession. Bennion again saved superbly from a Waters header before Vinny Sullivan’s flicked header went inches wide of the far post.

Waterford continued to search for a winning goal and should have taken the lead after 68 minutes. Liam Kearney skipped past the Athlone defence and crossed for David Grincell but his powerful header came crashing back off the crossbar.

Athlone defender Mark Nolan was lucky to stay on the pitch on 77 minutes. Kevin Waters broke away from the defender and was running toward goal before Nolan dragged him back and Referee McKell awarded the free kick, but amazingly didn’t award a second yellow card.

The Blues pushed for a winner but Athlone had another chance with six minutes left. Mark Nolan crossed for Gordon Watson but his header went straight at Konopka.

In stoppage time, Waterford had appeals for a penalty turned down, again to the annoyance of Stephen Henderson on the sideline. Paul McCarthy burst through the middle of the Athlone defence and went down under a challenge. As he waited for the penalty to be awarded, the referee instead showed McCarthy a yellow card.

The remaining minutes fizzled out with Stephen Henderson ruing two dropped points but Athlone will be more than happy with a point.

Waterford United: Konopka; A. Carey, McCarthy, J.Kearney, L. Kearney; Purcell (Kiely 70’), O’Callaghan, Dunphy, Waters; Sullivan, Grincell (O’Sullivan 83’).
Substitutes not used: Cambridge, P.Carey, Burns.

Athlone Town: Bennion; Nolan, Hope (Place 73’), McCarthy, O’Shea; O’Hanlon (Scullion 82’), Caffrey, Williamson, Watson; Farrell, Benson (Goggins 75’).
Substitutes not used: Relihan, Shliggerman.

Referee: Jim McKell (Tipperary)
Official Attendance: 335
Man of the Match: Chris Bennion