Blues Anthony McAlavey on the attack against Wexford Youths at Ferrycarrig Park.
The Blues boss Roddy Collins had only 13 players to choose from due to a host of players leaving the club in recent weeks along with the absence of Dylan Mernagh, Brian Nolan and Matthew Connor who are with the Ireland team at the World University Games in South Korea.
Although it was widely expected the club would have a total of six new players involved for this game, it became apparent that there is an underlining “issue” with the club signing players in the eyes of the FAI but hopefully this will be sorted before this Friday’s home clash with Finn Harps.
The Blues fell behind to a controversial goal in two regards on eight minutes.
It looked as if Ethan Boyle was clearly fouled on the edge of the area and after Jimmy Dermody played in Danny Furlong, he looked offside but the whistle never sounded as the centre forward tucked the ball past keeper Robert Birdsall.
Waterford defender Shane Dineen should have done better with a chance that fell his way on 28 minutes when he rose unchallenged to meet a left-wing Anthony McAlavey free kick at the back post but couldn’t direct his header on target.
A second Wexford Youths goal arrived on 34 minutes when Craig Wall picked up possession of the ball in the middle of the park and after setting John Peare into the clear down the right, he brilliantly finished over Robert Birdsall to the far corner of the net from 12 yards.
Peare was involved in the thick of the action less than sixty seconds later when the winger was clipped inside the area by Shane Dineen in the view of assistant referee Darren Corcoran and Danny Furlong gave keeper Birdsall no chance with an exquisite spot kick to put his side firmly in the driving seat.
Any remote chance that Roddy Collins side had of getting back into the game in the second half vanished within 24 seconds of the restart when a loose clearance saw Danny Furlong slip the ball out to the left for Jimmy Dermody and he beat Robert Birdsall with a crisp shot to the far corner of the net.
Waterford kept battling with Daniel Pender really working hard up front and he turned provider for Anthony McAlavey on 74 minutes however his effort was saved well by Graham Doyle before the former took a pass from Mikie Rowe three minutes later but keeper Doyle saved superbly again. Next up for Waterford United is Finn Harps on Friday at the RSC. Just who will line out for the Blues is anyone’s guess at this point.
WEXFORD YOUTHS: Graham Doyle, Craig McCabe, Jimmy Dermody, Ryan Delaney, Gary Delaney, Lee Grace (Paul Brennan `76), Kenny (David Doyle `76), Craig Wall (Peter Sutton `88),Danny Furlong, John Peare, Conor English.
WATERFORD UNITED: Robert Birdsall, Dean Reidy, Shaun Corcoran, Shane Mackey, Shane Dineen, Ethan Boyle, Bobbi Donoghue, Glean Hawe, Mikie Rowe, Anthony McAlavey (Thomas Croke `75),Daniel Pender.
Referee: Simon Rogers (Dublin)
