WATERFORD FC 2-1 DUNDALK FC

Jamie Gullan came off the bench to score but Dundalk could not salvage a point as their situation worsened at the bottom of the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division table with a 2-1 defeat by European-chasing Waterford at the RSC on Friday night.

The Lilywhites found themselves behind after just five minutes when Sam Bellis took advantage of the Louth men’s failure to deal with a long ball forward, the Englishman powering in at the near post to give out-of-form Waterford the perfect start.

Dundalk should have equalised in the 11th minute. Ryan O’Kane was set loose and rounded ‘keeper Louis Jones, but in doing so he was forced away from goal, with Daryl Horgan unable to get enough on the ball in the centre to force it home. Waterford then doubled their lead through Padraig Amond’s header.

A moment of huge controversy arrived on the half-hour mark when Eoin Kenny looked set to pull a goal back for Dundalk, but defender Grant Horton produced a good stop with his hand, which somehow was not spotted by the well-placed officials.

Eventually, Dundalk did score when substitutes Jad Hakiki and Jamie Gullan combined to reduce the deficit with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining. Hayden Cann and John Mountney had opportunities to earn an unlikely point in the closing minutes, but Waterford held out for an important win in their top-three chase.

For the game, Jon Daly made two changes to the team that lost to Saint Patrick’s Athletic at Oriel Park eight days earlier. Ross Munro returned in goal after a seven-game absence and was joined in the starting XI by Scott McGill, as Felix Goddard – not in the matchday squad – and Hakiki dropped out.

Inside the first minute, Darragh Power raced down the right and flashed in a cross for Bellis whose strike was comfortable for Munro. However, just four minutes later, Waterford were in front. Amond’s presence caused problems from a long punt forward and Bellis nipped in between two defenders before smashing in at the near post.

On seven minutes, Kenny threatened in the box, making room for a shot with a smart turn, but he curled off target. Dundalk should have been level soon after. Kenny freed O’Kane, who was forced wide by Jones, with the winger’s ball across goal directed agonisingly past the post by Horgan in the six-yard box.

Waterford made it 2-0 just after the quarter-hour. Dundalk softly coughed up possession in the middle of the park, leading to a swift Blues attack, with Bellis laying the ball back to Barry Baggley whose teasing left-footed delivery was dispatched to the net from close range by Amond.

After a lull in the game, Dundalk were denied a clear penalty on 30 minutes. Horgan broke into the box and found Kenny whose goal-bound strike was saved by the hand of Horton, with referee Rob Hennessy failing to point to the spot, instead immediately booking Kenny and Graham Kelly for their understandable reactions.

At the start of the second half, Waterford had a loud penalty shout of their own turned down and they then hit the bar. Dundalk were desperately searching for a way back into the game, but it was Munro who was the next to be called into action as he got down sharply to push away Dean McMenamy’s strike.

Daly responded by throwing on Hakiki and Robbie Mahon. Midway through the second half, Dundalk forced a couple of corners but Waterford dealt with both. Gullan and Dara Keane were then introduced for the final 20 minutes.

Ben McCormack came on at the same time for Waterford and he almost made an instant impact but Cann defended well to keep Dundalk in the game.

On 76 minutes, subs Hakiki and Gullan combined to get their team back into it. Horgan clipped a ball forward which was latched onto by Hakiki who got to the by-line and fired in a low cross for Gullan to blast in.

That goal gave the Lilywhites belief and they started to put pressure on the home defence. On 84 minutes, the ball fell for Cann in the box but his shot was deflected behind, and from Horgan’s corner, the ball bounced goalwards but Jones pushed it behind. From that, Mountney headed wide.

Dundalk continued to push, at times leaving themselves open at the back. However, they were unable to complete the fight-back as they as they suffered a third one-goal loss on the bounce to remain a point adrift of relegation rivals Drogheda United at the foot of the standings. Waterford, meanwhile, jumped to third.

WATERFORD FC: Louis Jones, Grant Horton, Darragh Leahy, Kacper Radkowski, Darragh Power, Rowan McDonald, Barry Baggley, Dean McMenamy (Ben McCormack 71), Ryan Burke (Shane Flynn 90+4), Sam Bellis (Gbemi Arubi 80), Padraig Amond. Subs not used: Matt Connor (GK), Connor Parsons, Connor Evans, Robbie McCourt, Sam Glenfield, Christie Pattisson.

DUNDALK FC: Ross Munro, Dan Pike, Andy Boyle, Hayden Cann, John Mountney, Aodh Dervin (Koen Oostenbrink 85), Robbie Benson (Dara Keane 71), Daryl Horgan, Scott McGill (Jad Hakiki 61), Ryan O’Kane (Robbie Mahon 61), Eoin Kenny (Jamie Gullan 71). Subs not used: Seán Molloy (GK), Mayowa Animasahun, Luke Mulligan, Seán Keogh.

REFEREE: Rob Hennessy.

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