Waterford United 2 St Patrick's Athletic 1: League leaders St Patrick's Athletic were quietly confident of taking full points from second-from-bottom Waterford United at the RSC last night but, not for the first time this season, the erratic Blues raised their game against top opposition.
Waterford broke the deadlock three minutes before half-time when Darryl Kavanagh swung over a free from the left and Paul McCarthy powerfully headed past goalkeeper Barry Ryan.
St Patrick's almost equalised eight minutes into the second half when Stephen Paisley headed a Keith Fahey free off the upright and Anto Murphy booted the rebound wide.
However, the visitors kept piling on the pressure and a mistake by Pat Flynn on 63 minutes gave Dave Mulcahy an opening to break clear and he unleashed a drive from 10 yards that gave goalkeeper Dean Delaney no chance.
But Waterford kept their shape and were back in front inside two minutes when Vinnie Sullivan's glancing header from a Willie John Kiely cross went in off the upright.
St Patrick's manager John McDonnell made three changes to the side that defeated Derry City last time out with Dave Rogers, Alan Kirby and Kevin Cornwall replacing Gary O'Neill and Michael and Colm Foley.
Still smarting after losing to Bray Wanderers, Waterford boss Gareth Cronin introduced Kavanagh, Ray Scully and new signing from Aberdeen, Kiely, for Alan Mulcahy, Shane Harte and Robert Brosnan.
There were clear-cut scoring chances in a first half during which United were forced to defend for long periods. After 12 minutes, Dave Warren floated over a ball that was knocked back by Sullivan to Kiely who chipped the ball over the bar from eight yards.
On the quarter hour, Fahey steered in a free from the right wing but Mark Quigley side-footed over the Waterford bar.
United's goal was fortunate to remain intact following a hectic goalmouth melee in the 24th minute and Sullivan should have scored at the other end on 39 minutes.
WATERFORD UNITED: Delaney, Flynn, Hedderman, Browne, Breen, Warren, Kiely (Brosnan, 79 minutes), McCarthy (Hayes, 94 minutes), Sullivan, Kavanagh, Scully (Lordan, 84 minutes).
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Ryan, Brennan, Paisley, Mulcahy, Maguire, Rogers, Kirby (Keane, 60 minutes), Fahey, Cornwall (O'Connor, 50 minutes), Murphy, Quigley.
Referee: Alan Kelly (Cork).
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