Longford Town failed to move up to third place in the first division table following a 3-0 defeat to Waterford at Bishopsgate.
Waterford were the superior outfit on the night. Gary Hunt’s men dominated the possession stakes and created more chances but still took the lead in bizarre circumstances on 13 minutes.
Town goalkeeper Luke Dennison failed to control Matthew Dunne’s back pass as the ball trickled under his foot and into the net.
Waterford were awarded a free-kick five minutes later. Aaron Robinson having fouled Shane Griffin 35-yards out, Griffin’s delivery was subsequently headed wide by Niall O’Keeffe.
Town’s first chance arrived on 20 minutes. Robinson collected O’Keeffe’s headed clearance, but his 30-yard effort went the wrong side of the post.
Town failed to trouble the goals during the remainder of the first-half. 11 minutes later; the hosts were almost undone by sloppy defending for the second time.
Dennison miss-controlled a Shane Elworthy pass, Phoenix Patterson collected the rebound but shot across the face of the goal.
Patterson came close again on 40 minutes. Following slick interplay between himself and Griffin, his 25-yard effort hit the crossbar as it remained 1-0 at half-time.
Eight minutes into the second half, Waterford were awarded a free-kick when Robinson brought down Callum Stringer.
The Town midfielder was shown a yellow card as he appeared to win the ball first and Patterson’s 30 yard effort was subsequently repelled by Dennison.
On 57 minutes, Roland Idowu embarked on a marauding run before attempting a cross to Louis Britton at the far post. Matthew Dunne put it out for a corner kick which Waterford couldn’t exploit.
Town fashioned a rare opportunity from a free-kick on 69 minutes. The opportunity presented itself after Robinson was impeded by Idowu on the edge of the Town box.
Robinson’s long ball sent Joe Doyle free on the right. Doyle pulled back for Joe Power to hit the side net from inside the box.
Town subsequently found themselves 2-0 down 13 minutes from time following a wonderful solo effort from Patterson. Having collected Richard Taylor’s pass and outpaced Dean McMenamy and Robinson. Patterson fired his 20-yard shot low into the net for his 10th goal of the season.
Waterford embellished the scoreboard further three minutes into injury time. The Blues were awarded a penalty when McMenamy pushed Cian Kavanagh inside the box.
Kavanagh confidently dispatched the resultant spot-kick as the visitors ran out comfortable winners following a convincing performance.
Longford Town: Luke Dennison, Shane Elworthy (Michael Barker 64), Matthew Dunne, Dylan Barnett, Ben Lynch (Matthew O’Brien 64), Dean McMenamy Aaron Robinson, Ryan Graydon (30 K Chambers), Joe Power, Eric Molloy, Joe Doyle (Christian Magerusan 79).
Waterford: Brian Murphy, Tunmise Sobowale, Killian Cantwell, Eddie Nolan, Richard Taylor (Darragh Power 87), Callum Stringer (Junior Quitirna Armando 62), Niall O’Keeffe, Phoenix Patterson, Shane Griffin, Roland Idowu, Louis Britton (Cian Kavanagh 73)
