- Cian Hartford
- Sat, Mar 11 2017
Two second half goals from Patrick McClean and Tom Smith saw Waterford overcome UCD at the Belfield Bowl on Friday night, the Blues bursting into life in the second period after a relatively quiet first half.
The first chance of the game fell the way of the visitors after just two minutes when Shane O’Connor’s corner fell kindly to Kenny McEvoy inside the box. His shot produced a fine reaction save by Niall Corbet at the near post.
The Blues had a penalty shout waved away by referee Adriano Reale not long afterwards when McEvoy skilfully worked his way into the box before going down under pressure from Evan Osam. Play continued however much to the bemusement of the away supporters.
Fresh from his brace last week, David McDaid had the chance to put his side ahead when a long ball was launched forwards and Students keeper Corbet came out to head away. His clearance fell kindly to the former Cliftonville striker on the edge of the box but he couldn’t quite dink the ball over the UCD stopper.
The Students’ number 11, Jason McClelland, came close from a free kick that he’d won on the 20-minute mark, and his attempt beat the wall but not the post as it curled safely wide.
Collie O’Neill’s men managed two half chances in the following few minutes. First Cian Kavanagh fired over the bar from outside the area, then captain Gary O’Neil picked up the loose ball on the half-way line before driving forward and trying his luck from 25 yards, but his shot was comfortably saved by Ian McLoughlin.
The game settled down after that point and neither side managed to create any real opportunity with UCD holding most of the possession before the whistle went for Half time.
Former Tottenham man McEvoy remained lively into the second half. The winger received the ball on the right before turning smoothly and making his way into the box, his subsequent square ball flashing across the six-yard-box.
UCD started to lose their flow in the second half and struggled to create much as Waterford began to take control. Skipper Gary O’Neill came close when he got his free kick over the wall but not under the crossbar.
Swindon loanee Tom Smith also came close to putting Pat Fenlon’s men into the lead when he latched onto a loose ball after a scramble in the UCD area, but Corbet came out quickly to deny him his first goal for the club.
The UCD keeper had to be at his best to deny McDaid on the hour mark, the striker battling with Liam Scales for a long ball that eventually fell at his feet, and his well hit shot was saved brilliantly by Corbet. The deadlock was broken from the resulting corner as Corbet came out and punched the ball up rather than out before it was headed into a virtually empty net by Patrick McClean from ten yards out.
The game was all Waterford’s at that point and UCD failed to get back into the game. The closest they came was when Neil Farrugia saw his shot blocked by Kenny Browne after he had been played in by Daire O’Connor.
The Blues remained hungry for more as the game entered its final minutes, Smith spreading it wide to O’Halloran whose cross was half cleared by Evan Osam, but only to the feet of Smith who’s shot flew past the post.
Smith couldn’t be contained however and he soon got his name on the scoresheet. The midfielder played a one-two on the edge of the box with McDaid before firing low into the corner to all but seal the points for Waterford.
The Students had one last roll of the dice in search of a consolation goal, O’Neill sending in a cross that was met by the head of Georgie Kelly but the striker saw his effort go over the bar.
The win puts Waterford top of the First Division on goal difference ahead of UCD as The Blues look to push on and establish themselves as title contenders, Pat Fenlon’s men are in Dublin once again next week as they take on Shelbourne at Tolka Park. As for The Students, they must pick themselves up and go again next week as they travel to Ferrycarrig to take on Wexford.
UCD: Niall Corbet; Daniel Tobin, Maxi Kouogun, Liam Scales, Evan Osam; Gary O’Neil, Greg Sloggett, Robert Manley (Neil Farrugia 70), Cian Kavanagh (Daire O’Connor 70), Jason McClelland (Ben Hanrahan 81); Georgie Kelly.
Subs Not Used: Conor Kearns (gk); Sean Coyne, Josh Collins; Jack Ryan.
Booked: Cian Kavanagh (58)
Waterford: Ian McLoughlin; Shane O’Connor, Dave Mulcahy, Kenny Browne, Patrick McClean; Tom Smith (Robin Dempsey 90), Kenny McEvoy (Dean O’Halloran 76), Sander Puri, Garry Comerford, Anthony McAlavey; David McDaid (Dean Walsh 88).
Subs Not Used: Matthew Connor (gk), Derek Daly, Jake Evans, Gary Delaney.
Booked: Kenny Browne (28), Dean O’Halloran (87).
Referee: Adriano Reale.
Attendance: 259
Extratime Man of the Match: Tom Smith (Waterford FC).
