League Report: Waterford 1 - 0 Bohemians

Simon O’Gorman reports from the RSC

A single goal, scored late in the opening half by Phoenix Patterson, settled this game at the RSC on Saturday afternoon. The solitary strike gave Waterford their fourth league win on the spin against a Bohs side who were on a brief break from their current European adventures.

As the form book suggested, this was a very good game of football featuring, as it did, two teams that are very much on the up. 

Since Marc Bircham began to get his own players in, the Blues have looked very impressive despite their lowly league position.

Bohemians, meanwhile, have shown excellent form in their adventures in the Europa Conference League, an odyssey that will take them to north Greece next week with a one-goal advantage against PAOK of Salonika and high hopes of making the play-off round – one stop away from the Group Stages.

With this in mind, Bohs boss Keith Long elected to make six changes to his starting line up. But perhaps it would be ungenerous to Waterford to suggest that this was behind their early dominance of the game.

They were the front runners from the first whistle with John Martin and Junior Quitirna posing the visitors all sorts of problems. In the 10th minute it was Quitirna who created an opening, spinning a delightful cross from the left in to John Martin whose header came off the crossbar, bounced off James Talbot in the Bohs goal, and was ultimately cleared to safety.

Eight minutes later Quitirna again tied the away defence in knots before curling a shot wide of the goal. But as the half progressed Waterford’s chances became more ragged as Prince Mutswunguma failed to provide the kind of focal point that a lone striker must if his team are to profit in front of goal.

Bohs battled hard to gain a foothold but Waterford coped well with the bullish physicality of Georgie Kelly and fullback Darragh Power managed the guile of Keith Ward, wide on Bohs’ left flank.

The teams might have gone to the break scoreless but finally, on 42 minutes, Waterford got the break their overall play deserved.

The breakthrough goal, when it came, was a toe poke over the line by midfielder, Phoenix Patterson, after a corner from the right caused mayhem in the Bohemians six-yard box. Talbot in the Bohs goal had done superbly to keep out a ricochet off one of his defenders but the ball was returned immediately to the danger zone and Patterson took his chance when it fell to him.

The second half was played at an altogether less frantic pace, something that initially appeared to suit Bohemians more. Ali Coote and then full back Andy Lyons, made some progress on the visitors’ right hand side, Lyons in particular making Brian Murphy work.

With five minutes of the second half played Waterford centre back, Eddie Nolan, took a shot from the halfway line that might have been inspired by Glen McAuley’s stunning goal against the Blues a fortnight ago. But on this occasion it was calmly fielded by Talbot.

With an hour gone Keith Long tried to inject some energy into the game with a double substitution, Ross Tierney and Liam Burt coming into the fray, but Waterford remained resolute, holding the Gypsies at bay.

Mutswunguma expressed the fatigue of the second period on 61 minutes when he was run down by two Bohs defenders after he was played through. The 40 yards between him and glory was just too much. And three minutes later Talbot did superbly to deny Quitirna twice as the Waterford man tried to round him in the goalmouth.

At the other end, Lyons and Coote again created a chance for Bohs on 71 minutes but Darragh Power was on hand to head over his own bar when needed.

As we wound our way into the final 20 minutes game management became Waterford’s biggest weapon. First, veteran Greg Halford came into the game for an exhausted Mutswunguma, and then defender Kyle Ferguson replaced the talisman Quitirna.

The final stages of the game saw Bohemians exerting huge effort to work their way up the pitch only for a man in Blue to nip in and hammer the ball back to square one.

It was a frustrating end to a frustrating afternoon for the Greece-bound Dubliners and even Rory Feely’s half chance two minutes into added time seemed doomed to fail, despite how close he was to the goal-line.

In truth, Waterford deserved their win and while Bohemians played with determination they were outplayed on the day. And so, Marc Bircham’s side continue to gather valuable league points, while Bohemians look forward to Salonika and the promise of further European glory.

Waterford: Brian Murphy; Darragh Power, Cameron Evans, Eddie Nolan, Jack Stafford; John Martin, Niall O’Keeffe, Junior Quitirna (Kyle Ferguson 86), Shane Griffin, Phoenix Patterson; Prince Mutswunguma (Greg Halford 72).

Subs Not Used: Paul Martin (gk), George Forrest, Cian Kavanagh, Jeremie Milambo, Isaac Tshipamba, Jamal Depree.

Booked: Jack Stafford (40), John Martin (76).

Bohemians: James Talbot; Andy Lyons, Rory Feely, James Finnerty, Tyreke Wilson; Ali Coote, Dawson Devoy, Conor Levingston (Aaron Doran 78), Keith Ward (Liam Burt 57); Jamie Mullins (Ross Tierney 57); Georgie Kelly.

Subs Not Used: Stephen McGuinness (gk), Anto Breslin, Rob Cornwall, Stephen Mallon, Sean Grehan, Robert Mahon.

Booked: Ali Coote (20), Rory Feely (33), Keith Ward (54).

Referee: Graham Kelly.

Attendance: 500

Player of the Match: Junior Quitirna (Waterford).

In Pictures: UCD 0 - 0 Shelbourne https://t.co/EHfb4nI1x2pic.twitter.com/Uj7LixgHch

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