Waterford secured a vital three points in their Premier Division survival fight by coming from behind to beat Drogheda United 3-1 at the RSC on Friday. The victory, their second in a row, lifts the club to 8th place with 37 points from 34 games, a position they will aim to consolidate in a key away fixture against Shelbourne next week. Their record of eight wins, thirteen draws, and thirteen losses has them 28 points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers, having scored 48 goals and conceded 58 this season.
Drogheda took a surprise lead midway through the first half when Leo Burney found the net in the 24th minute. Waterford responded just before the break, with Hayden Cann heading home an equaliser in the 43rd minute from a Bernardo Piexoto Couto assist. The hosts took control after the interval, and Conan Noonan put them ahead in the 67th minute with a low finish from a Tom Lonergan assist. Padraig Amond sealed the win in the 83rd minute, tapping in from close range after a cross from Evan McLaughlin.
Match dominance
Manager Graham Coughlan's side dominated possession with 59 per cent and created significantly more chances, registering 18 shots to Drogheda's 11. The defensive unit, which included Kevin Long and Mahon, limited the visitors to just two efforts on target. The win continues a positive recent trend, with Waterford now having won three of their last five matches, a run detailed on our fixtures page. This recent form of three wins and two losses includes a 3-2 victory over Galway United and a 2-1 loss to Bohemians.
The result is a major stride towards preserving the club's Premier Division status. They now sit 8th in the standings, ten points clear of the relegation zone with a goal difference of minus ten. Top scorer Tom Lonergan, who provided an assist and has nine goals this season in 35 appearances, was a constant threat alongside Amond, who scored twice in the 3-2 win over Galway United.
Waterford will travel to Tolka Park for a key away match against 4th-placed Shelbourne on Friday, 30 October, with kick-off at 19:45 local time. The side will look to repeat their 1-0 victory from the last meeting on 2 August.
