Elbouzedi double helps St Pat's blitz basement dwellers Waterford
St. Patrick's Athletic's Zac Elbouzedi celebrates with teammates. Pic: Andrew Conan/Inpho
Familiar patterns are keeping St Patrick’s Athletic on the coattails of champions and league leaders Shamrock Rovers.
Fans flocking to Richmond Park have gotten used to a recurrent pattern of their team coughing up an early lead before blitzing them into oblivion.
Since beating Galway 1-0 on March 2, St Pat’s haven’t taken the lead in any of the games in Inchicore.
Waterford were the sixth visitor since then and in customary fashion hit the front early to quell the expectant home crowd.
They were fortunate not to be deeper in trouble before they equalised in first half stoppage time through Chris Forrester’s penalty but there was no doubting their supremacy after the break.
Zack Elbouzedi reflected their status through a quickfire brace around the hour mark, following up his poacher’s instinct for the first with a sublime shot from distance to extend the lead.
Ryan Edmondson’s seventh goal of the season 13 minutes from time completed the rout.
With Bohemians also engineering a turnaround to win in Dundalk, it was vital that the Saints didn’t slip up by allowing Rovers stretch their buffer beyond three points.
Waterford’s new managerial bounce through the appointment on Wednesday of Graham Coughlan contributed towards building their early lead but the deflation which comes from going 15 winless games since the season kicked off in February was bound to tell.
While they recovered from a two-goal deficit to collect a point off Dundalk last Monday, they had little reply to the Saints' siege in the final half hour.
Dean McMenamy did get a sight from a knockout when 3-1 down but could only graze the crossbar with his rising shot. Sligo’s draw at Shelbourne leaves the Blues marooned at the foot of the table by 10 points.
It had all begun so promisingly for Waterford. With ex-Ireland international Kevin Long solid at the back and another former Cork City player Benni Couto breaking into midfield, they had their hosts scrambling.
Pádraig Amond was the first recipient of their early endeavours of latching onto Couto’s pass on four minutes. Last year’s top scorer in the league drifted wide but fashioned a low shot which Joseph Anang managed to thwart with his heel.
It seems Anang won’t be departing for the World Cup with Ghana next month but his defence were wondering where he was from Couto’s resultant corner.
John Mahon was one of three Blues players to get a run into the six-yard box and was credited with the goal as Tommy Lonergan glanced his header off his teammate on the way in.
Kian Leavy’s importance to the Pat’s cause was demonstrated by his mazy runs, one of which culminated in a shot that arced wide.
Lonergan at the other end was inches from doubling the lead with a shot that deflected wide but the leveller would come from the spot.
Sam Glenfield was already on a booking for hauling down Leavy when he tugged the sleeve of Barry Baggley just as the two minutes of stoppage time elapsed.
All Rob Harvey awarded was a penalty despite pleas for red from Pat’s and Forrester sent Arlo Doherty the wrong way.
Coughlan would have preferred if Jordan Houston had cleared, rather than cushioned a cross from James Brown 12 minutes into the second half, allowing Elbouzedi to smash in the loose ball.
Elbouzedi applied his brace goal three minutes later before another Leavy break fed Elbouzedi who, in turn, laid off for Edmondson to make it 4-1.
J Anang; J Redmond, S Hoare, L Turner; J Browne, D Nugent, C Forrester (J Lennon 78), Z Elbouzedi (A Breslin 82); B Baggley (S Rooney 86), K Leavy (R Palmer 78); R Edmondson (M Mata 78).
A Doherty; J Mahon, K Long, H Cann; J Houston (J Faria 74), S Glenfield (L Heeney 46), D McMenamy (W Johnston 67), B Couto; C Noonan (J Voilas 82), T Lonergan; P Amond (C Carty 82).
Rob Harvey (Dublin).
4,132.
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