Twardek hits brace as Galway win seven-goal thriller against Waterford

Galway manager John Caulfield was sent to the stands during the second half. The result means Waterford are still winless after seven games

Kris Twardek of Galway United celebrates scoring his side's first goal against Waterford at Eamonn Deacy Park in Galway. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

SSE Airtricity Premier Division: Galway United 4 Waterford 3

Kris Twardek was the hero for Galway United as they battled to a 4-3 victory over Waterford at Eamonn Deacy Park on Monday evening.

The Blues made five changes to the side that was heavily beaten away to Dundalk on Friday and though they started well, it was Galway who opened the scoring when a loose ball fell to Aaron Bolger deep in the Galway half, the Wicklow native playing a sublime through-ball into the path of Twardek who finished calmly past McMullan to give the home side an early lead.

Waterford reacted well and were rewarded when a quick throw-in on the left-hand side fell to Luke Heeney, his whipped cross meeting the head of Galway defender Gianfranco Facchineri who was unfortunate to send the ball into his own net to level the game at one apiece.

The home crowd were silenced but it was Caulfield’s side who were shell-shocked just two minutes later. A long kick-out from Stephen McMullan was met highest by Conan Noonan, heading the ball into the path of Padraig Amond who rifled the ball into the Galway net to make it 2-1 to Waterford and turn the game on its head.

Galway were shaken into action, and deep into injury time were rewarded for their efforts when Bolger was adjudged to have been fouled in the box by Heeney, the referee pointing at the spot for a penalty which was calmly converted by David Hurley to make it 2-2 right before the half-time whistle.

Galway took control in the second half and went ahead for a second time when some good work from Lee Devitt found David Hurley in the Waterford penalty area, who laid the ball off for Twardek to smash home his second and give Galway a 3-2 lead.

Controversy then struck on 65 minutes when United manager John Caulfield was sent to the stands by referee Kevin O'Sullivan for his objections to a free-kick and yellow card given against substitute Frantz Pierrot.

Waterford pushed hard to get back into the game, forcing multiple corners from the Galway defence but despite manager Jon Daly ringing the changes, it was the home side who struck again when Frantz Pierrot pounced on a Francely Lomboto rebound to give Galway a 4-2 lead.

Waterford were given a glimmer of hope at the end as the game saw a second penalty awarded, Lonergan converting to set up a nervy finish for Galway, but the Tribesmen managed to resist Waterford’s late surge and grind out a 4-3 victory to leave Waterford winless in the league after seven games played.

GALWAY UNITED: E Watts, A Parker (W Williams 80’), L Devitt, K Brouder, G Facchineri, A Bolger (F Lomboto 80’), D Hurley, M Wolfe (C Barratt 69’), K Twardek, J Keohane (E McCarthy 45’), S Walsh (F Pierrot 53’).

WATERFORD: S McMullan, A Zborowski, B Peixoto Couto, H Cann, H, R Mansfield, L Heeney (D McMenamy 77’), C Noonan, S Glenfield, J Voilas (T Lonergan 69’),, T Coyle (C Carty 69’), P Amond (Capt.).

Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan