Waterford United's George O'Callaghan takes on Athlone's Robbie Benson at the RSC last Tuesday. | Photo: Jim O'Sullivan
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Waterford United’s poor run of results continued at the RSC on Tuesday of last week when they were held to a scoreless draw by a dogged Athlone Town side to slip three points behind Derry City.
Having seen his side take just four points from a possible twelve, Blues boss Stephen Henderson was suitably unimpressed afterwards. “You cannot win football games if you don’t shoot at goal,” he reasoned. “We passed the ball far too often in front of goal when really we should have made their goalkeeper work. We are overplaying the ball in the opponents’ penalty area and that is not the way to win points.
“We are not sharp enough at the moment and we will have to shape up quickly because this league is there for the taking, but we wont win it if we continue to waste chances,” the usually upbeat manager said after eventually emerging from the dressing-room following a lengthy chat with his players.
His starting XI showed one change from the team which lost 2-1 away to Longford the previous Saturday. Kevin Waters returned to the fold following a six-week absence through injury and he operated on the left side of midfield. John Hayes, who was injured playing against Longford, failed a fitness test two hours before kick-off. The opening 35 minutes produced little or nothing of note and we had to wait until the 37th minute for the first half-chance. George O’Callaghan sent over a cross from the right which was met by Waters, lurking at the far post, but he headed weakly at Athlone ’keeper Chris Bennion.
Two minutes later Waters played the ball to the feet of top-scorer Vinny Sullivan who could have had a shot but released the ball to David Grincell who fired in an effort 15 yards but Bennion turned the ball around his right upright.
See The Munster Express newspaper for full match report.
