Bohs forced to settle for yet another draw as Waterford stand firm

TOUGH AFTERNOON: Bohemians' Adam McDonnell dejected after the match Pic: INPHO/Dan Clohessy

Bohemian FC 1 Waterford 1 

Bohs spurned the chance to regain top spot from St. Patrick’s Athletic as they were held at home to a resolute Waterford United side, as the home side’s run of draws now stands at four.

Colm Whelan’s second-half penalty salvaged a point for the unbeaten hosts who had gone behind to John Mahon’s first-half header.

Being at home, the pressure was on to get back to winning ways and to their credit Bohs dominated the opening exchanges.

With just a couple of minutes played Dawson Devoy stung the knuckles of Arlo Doherty who punched away a thunderous inswinging free kick. And from the corner, the Bohs skipper sent a pinpoint delivery onto the head of Connor Parsons. The winger's downward header fooled many home fans into thinking they had taken the lead only for the ball to miss the bottom corner by a matter of inches.

Just 72 hours previously, Jon Daly’s charges were 10 minutes away from grabbing one of the season's most surprising wins at home to double winners Shamrock Rovers - only to see Graham Burke level from the penalty spot. They showed no ill effects from the heartbreak looking well organised and carried a threat through Padraig Amond and Conor Carty.

As the game ticked over the half hour mark, an air of frustration began to grow around Dalymount Park, that was until Parsons cut inside from the left and saw a deflected effort almost loop over Doherty, who showed good reactions to tip over.

But as the winger tried to whip up the crowd, Bohs found themselves behind for the first time this season when Mahon outmuscled Whelan at the back post to head back across goal to stun the home support.

Ireland under-21 International Harry Vaughan forced the Waterford stopper into a full-stretch save just before the break but, again, shots from distance were all they could muster.

A quartet of changes came before the hour mark as Stevie O’Donnell looked to breathe life into his attack but Doherty was equal to everything that came his way.

With 20 precious minutes left, the home side switched to a back three with Pat Hickey taking his place up top and the pressure finally told when Devoy was hauled down in the area.

Whelan took responsibility and made no mistake from 12 yards smashing high to his left to level and it was game on.

In the ascendancy now, both Hickey and Whelan had great opportunities to put their side ahead with the latter still wondering how Doherty managed to keep his header out after coming off the underside of the cross bar.

Wave after wave of Bohs attacks were met by a strong wall of white that battled their way until the final whistle to earn yet another crucial point in their battle at the bottom.

Bohemians: Kacper Chorazka; Darragh Power, Sam Todd, Pat Hickey, Senan Mullen (Jordan Flores, 46’); Sadou Diallo (Adam McDonnell, 58’), Dawson Devoy: Connor Parsons (Cian Byrne, 76’), Harry Vaughan (Ross Tierney, 58’), Zane Myers (Markuss Strods 58’); Colm Whelan 

Waterford: Arlo Doherty; Hayden Cann, John Mahon (Kevin Long, 46’), Ronan Mansfield; Alan Zborowski, Dean McMenamy (Jordan Mackenzie Faria, 77’), Conan Noonan (Cian Barrett, 68’), Evan McLaughlin (Luke Heeney, 62’), Jesse Dempsey: Conor Carty (Jorgen Voilas, 77’), Padraig Amond 

Referee: Declan Toland