Bohemians overcome Waterford to keep title hopes alive

Sam Todd and Ryan Burke goals either side of a Padraig Amond equaliser - with Tommy Lonergan missing a crucial penalty at 1-1 - earned their side a crucial win.

Bohs' Ryan Burke celebrates scoring his side’s second goal with teammates. Pic: ©INPHO/Will Morgan.

Bohemians 2 Waterford 1

Bohs finished a disappointing week on a high to earn a hard-fought win, and get some slight revenge on their semi-final conquerors thanks to Sam Todd and Ryan Burke goals either side of a Padraig Amond equaliser - with Tommy Lonergan missing a crucial penalty at 1-1.

With his team selections being called into question by some at Dalymount, Alan Reynolds kept faith with his somewhat divisive goalkeeper Paul Walters, whilst also leaving the league's second top scorer Colm Whelan on the bench.

They started well and took the lead after just 12-minutes when Jordan Flores’ inswinging corner was powered home by Sam Todd for a deserved lead.

The FAI Cup finalists remained unchanged from a week previous, and although they had the showpiece lurking on the horizon, focus had to remain firmly on domestic matters as they look to avoid the dreaded relegation / promotion play-off.

But having dealt with the visitors' aerial threat relatively comfortably, the hosts' Achilles heel of not being ruthless enough in the final third came back to haunt them. Both Douglas James-Taylor and Ryan Burke spurned glorious chances to double their lead before an unmarked Amond equalised with a well taken header from Couto’s corner.

Minutes after the restart the visitors were handed a glorious chance to take the lead when Byrne was adjudged to have brought down Mahon following another Couto Long throw. But much to the bafflement of all inside Dalymount, the league’s top scorer Lonergan dragged his spot kick wide of the bottom corner.

Having been let off the hook, left back Burke burst forward from left back to put his side ahead against his former employers smashing home a low right footed effort from the edge of the area to eventually earn a morale boosting three points.

Elsewhere goals in each half from Brandon Kavanagh and substitute Mark Doyle saw Drogheda United defeat Derry City at Sullivan & Lambe Park.

Bohemians: Paul Walters; Darragh Power, Sam Todd, Cian Byrne, Ryan Burke (Pat Hickey 78); Sadou Diallo (Niall Morahan 75), Jordan Flores; Ross Tierney, Harry Vaughan (Markuss Strods 75), Connor Parsons (Dayle Rooney 90+4); Douglas James-Taylor (Colm Whelan 75).

Waterford: Stephen McMullan, Hayden Cann, John Mahon, Kevin Long, Bernardo Peixoto Couto; Jordan Houston (Dean McMenenamy 86), Noah Mawene (Evan McLaughlin 78), Luke Heeney (Jorgen Voilas 78), Conan Noonan; Padraig Amond, Tommy Lonergan.

Referee: Paul McLaughlin.