Derry City fall to defeat in Waterford

Waterford 2

Derry City 1

Waterford ended a seven-game losing streak as they deservedly defeated Derry City at the RSC. 

The Candystripes were huge favourites to make it three successive wins under Tiernan Lynch, but they never got started and were lacklustre throughout as they fell to their second loss against the Blues this season.

The visitors could have taken the lead just 13 minutes with a precise move which left the Waterford defenders standing like statues; Ronan Boyce played a simple pass inside the full-back for Dom Thomas to run onto, and he lifted his head to pick out Michael Duffy in the centre of the goal, but Derry’s top scorer was unable to finish on his weaker left foot, shooting straight at Stephen McMullan. That was not the sign of things to come however.

Waterford came even closer to taking the lead just three minutes later and Derry City were lucky to survive. Grant Horton’s deep cross from the right went all the way to the back post where Ryan Burke arrived, and his downward header beat Brian Maher, but was cleared of the line by Kevin Holt as City barely survived.

That gave the home side a desperately-needed confidence boost and they came close again just minutes later when James Olayinka’s cross from the right found Padraig Amond, whose instinctive volley just dipped over Maher and the crossbar.

The home side got the goal they needed and deserved five minutes before half-time when Brian Maher came for a corner and lost sight of the ball and Kacper Radowski’s header back across goal was bundled over the line by Darragh Leahy.

The Blues continued to look the more threatening team heading into the second half, and with the City defence again struggling to deal with crosses from the right, Amond was able to head down for strike partner Tommy Lonergan, who held off Mark Connolly to spin and volley just over the bar.

Tiernan Lynch made four changes to try and inject some life into his team, but it just got worse for the Candystripes who conceded a second goal midway through the second half. Again, a set-play proved to be Derry’s undoing, as a free-kick into the area was laid off by Lonergan to Amond, and the striker’s snapshot took a deflection to take it past Maher and into the net for 2-0.

It took Derry 80 minutes before they really tested McMullan in the Waterford goal, a snapshot from substitute Sean Patton forcing the goalkeeper into a good save low to his left.

Derry managed to pull a goal back three minutes into added time when Ferguson’s cross found Liam Boyce who managed to head the ball past the oncoming McMullan, but it was nothing but scant consolation for the visitors at the end of a very disappointing night.

Teams

Waterford: McMullan, Burke, Boyle (White HT’), Horton, Olayinka, Leahy, Radkowski, Lonergan, Glenfield, Noonan, Amond.

Derry City: Maher, R Boyce (Ferguson 62’), Connolly, Holt, Todd, Winchester (O’Reilly HT’), Benson (Harkin 62’), Whyte, Thomas (L Boyce HT’), Duffy, Mullen (Patton 70’).

Referee: Paul Norton.