Waterford school St Pat's to maintain remarkable resurgence

John Mahon of Waterford celebrates. Pic: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile

St Patrick’s Athletic 0 Waterford 2 

Second half goals from Jørgen Voilås and John Mahon maintained Waterford’s remarkable resurgence as they schooled St Patrick’s Athletic at Richmond Park.

Having been nine points adrift at the foot of the table at the end of May, this win stretched Graham Coughlan’s Blues’ unbeaten run to 10 games and it was no more than they deserved as they created the better chances despite St Pat’s enjoying more possession.

Coughlan said pre-match that while St Pat’s were chasing silverware his side were chasing survival.

And though they remain eighth in the table, this victory gives Blues a four-point cushion over Drogheda United as they sit a point behind Derry City who play Sunday.

It marked another missed opportunity for St Pat’s whose eighth-match unbeaten run came to an inglorious end. They stay second in the table, four points behind Shamrock Rovers, though the champions have two games in hand.

Though Blues started positively, ex-Saint Tommy Lonergan failed to really get hold of his seventh-minute shot which was straight at Joseph Anang.

St Pat’s soon began to dominate possession as they probed for openings.

A sublime ball over the top from Chris Forrester brought promise as Anthony Olusanya’s good first touch looked to have him in on goal before Mahon got across to intercept.

Stephen McMullan was finally worked between the Blues posts on 19 minutes, getting down to push away a low drive from Luke Turner as Saints’ pressure mounted.

With their front two of skipper Padraig Amond and Lonergan Waterford always posing a threat on the counter, the latter won Blues’ first corner of the game when his shot deflected out off Saints’ captain Joe Redmond.

Blues midfielder Evan McLaughlin then wasted the chance of the first half, volleying at Anang from close-range following a swift counter.

Starting the second half on the front foot, Waterford should have taken the lead inside a minute.

Jordan Houston’s ball ran right through the Saints defence to find Lonergan who spun to blast off the crossbar from 10 yards when it looked easier for him to have added to his 14 goals this season.

But Lonergan would soon make amends as Blues punished sloppy defending to take the lead on 55 minutes.

Zach Elbouzedi failed to clear the ball under pressure from Lonergan who tenaciously regained possession to cross for Norwegian winger Voilås to shoot home his fourth goal of the season.

While Tuner had a shot deflected for another St Pat’s corner, Waterford remained a big threat on the counter with Lonergan twice coming close, while Voilås worked Anang, before they doubled their lead on 76 minutes.

Anang came but never got to Bernardo Couto’s corner allowing big centre-back Mahon to head to the net.

St Pat’s pressed for the remainder of the game but couldn’t find a way through, substitute Ryan Edmondson contriving to shoot wide from yards out late on just about summing up their night.

Waterford might even have added to their winning margin in stoppage time but for a fine save by Anang from Voilås.

St Patrick’s Athletic: Anang; Redmond, Hoare, Turner (McClelland, 78); Lennon; Elbouzedi, Forrester (Rooney, 78), Nugent (Sheridan, 59), Breslin (Brown, 59); Keena (Edmondson, 66), Olusanya.

Waterford: McMullan; Houston (Cann, 78), Mahon, Long, Couto; Voilås, Mawene (McMenany, 88), McLaughlin (Heaney, 88), Noonan; Amond, Lonergan.

Referee: Paul McLaughlin (Monaghan).

Attendance: 3,965.