Sligo Rovers 1 Waterford FC 2
Waterford FC recorded their third Premier League victory of the season in dramatic fashion at the Showgrounds on Friday night last.
Courtney Duffus, who was playing only his second game for the club, popped up with the winning goal in the last minute and needless to say the Blues supporters went absolutely wild with excitement.
It was a really special moment for those fans because many of them did not arrive until halftime due to the fact that their bus got caught up in traffic chaos on the way to the game. Waterford went in leading one nil at the interval courtesy of a Gavin Holohan header.
In truth the Blues had to play second fiddle in the second half as the ‘Bit O Red’ took over completely and it took some incredible goalkeeping by Lawrence Vigouroux to keep the visitors in the game.
Blues striker Courtney Duffus heads for goal against Sligo Rovers
It was quite simply a magical night underneath the famed Ben Bulben Mountains.
Adam Morgan nearly capitalised on a mistake in the Blues defence on ten minutes when he raced clear on goal but keeper Lawrence Vigouroux pulled off a top-class save.
Blues keeper Vigouroux showed his class with a top save on 19 minutes.
Sligo midfielder Caolan McAleer latched onto the ball 25-yards from goal but his cracking effort was magnificently tipped out for a corner kick.
Rory Feely had half a chance for the Blues soon afterwards but he headed Paul Keegan’s left-wing corner kick wide. Bastien Héry sent Dean Walsh into the clear on 32 minutes but his low left-footed shot was saved by the feet of Mitchell Beeney.
The Blues broke the deadock two minutes later when Gavan Holohan rose highest in the area to power a brilliant Rory Feely delivery past a helpless Sligo keeper Beeney.
Determined to get back on terms, Sligo started the second half on the front foot. Callum Waters whipped a ball across goal but Adam Morgan failed to connect. Caolan McAleer latched onto a knockdown on 52 minutes but he shot straight at Lawrence Vigouroux from the edge of the penalty area.
Vigouroux’s brilliance kept his side in front on 59 minutes when Caolan McAleer sent a ball into the danger zone to Eduardo Pinceli but his effort was turned out for a corner kick that was cleared.
Blues striker Gavin Holohan wheels away in delight after opening the scoring against Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds last Friday night.
The home side got the goal their second half dominance deserved eight minutes later.
Caolan McAleer sent in a ball that was touched on by Pinceli into the path of Adam Morgan who scrambled the ball home from close range.
A stunning double save from man of the match Lawrence Vigouroux kept the Blues on level terms with three minutes to go when he firstly kept out a strike from Ally Roy and somehow saved the rebound from Lewis Morrison as the visitors clung on.
The Blues however grabbed all three points with a dramatic goal in the last minute. Derek Daly did well to slip the ball into centre forward Courtney Duffus and he beat keeper Mitchell Beeney with a sublime right-footed shot from the edge of the area. It was a truly incredible conclusion to the match and the visiting players and supporters headed for home in dreamland.
It’s been a very long time since Waterford F.C. have occupied a place near the top of the Premier Division table and they now lie second, just behind Cork City on goal difference with a very busy few weeks to come.
