A point a piece at Dalymount as Bohemians suffer a fourth draw in a row and Waterford register back to back points.
A point a piece at Dalymount as Bohs suffer a fourth draw in a row and Waterford take points of the top of the table once again. After this draw Bohs still sit joint first after Pats defeat to Dundalk but they will be raised questions about a fourth consecutive week of points dropped
As for Waterford although they didn’t win, they will be rather happy about taking points off first Rovers and now Bohs and can be something to build on moving into the second series of fixtures.
Waterford kicked off the game at Dalymount, but the Bohs started of strong by putting pressure on the Waterford defence and testing Arlo Doherty early on.
Just five minutes in Dawson Devoy swung a beautiful cross in that landed on Patrick Hickeys head which was inches from going in but ended up being a goal kick
It was all Bohs in the first 10 having wave after wave of attacks but couldn’t find the back of the net.
A first decent opportunity came for Waterford as they were awarded a freekick a couple yards out taken by Evan McLaughlin, a left peg swing into the box but the referee called it offside and a Bohs ball.
Zane Myers was causing problems for Bohs down the right flank, and managed to influence a promising chance that came from a Harry Vaughan cross, that met Colm Whelan’s head but failed to convert the chance
20 minutes in and the away side started to find their feet, keeping the ball and moving with intent but found themselves losing the ball and giving away a handful of corner kicks to Bohs
With 15 minutes left in the half both teams searched for an opener. Conor Parsons found himself at the edge of the box and took a chance at the keeper, striking it beautifully but was tipped over by Arlo Doherty that gifted Bohs a corner, but nothing came from it.
The ball went down the other end and Waterford were awarded a freekick from a few yards out , which was whipped in by McLaughlin and Waterford centre back John Mahon leaped over the Bohs defender and tucked it into the bottom right corner to open the scoring and make it 1-0 to Waterford.
The goal gave them a big boost and after the goal, they looked the more confident and comfortable side with only 10 minutes of the half left.
With 3 minutes left of the first half Bohs pushed for a leveller, but the Waterford backline stood strong, a cross from Senan Mullen deemed to be the last kick of the first half and Waterford went in leading.
The second half kicked off and neither team could find their footing early on. Bohs pushed for a way back into the game and were awarded their eighth corner of the game but again nothing came from it . The home side made three changes only 10 minutes into the second half all at once, bringing on Markus Strods , Ross Tierney and Adam McDonnell.
It was all Bohemians at the start of the half, they kept the ball well and moved forward with intent. A powerful strike from Devoy came out of nowhere from outside of the area but was tipped over by Doherty for what would be Bohs ninth corner of the game. The corner was whipped in by but didnt meet anyone along the way
Another huge chance for Bohemians came moments later by Whelan but again tipped away by the Waterford keeper, who was on the ropes. A goal was brewing for the home side as they got closer but could not find a breakthrough.
In the 70th minute a ball was played to Devoy into the box who was suddenly taken down and Bohs were awarded a penalty, which was converted by Colm Whelan to make it 1-1 and level the game.
After the goal, Bohs started to look more like themselves and played with the intent to go grab a second. Suddenly, Strods drove down the wing and crossed a floating ball in on his left that met Whelan’s head, who’s effort smacked off the cross bar, a huge chance for Bohs to go a goal up.
Less than 10 on the clock, Bohs kept on pushing for a winner, crosses into the box and shots from long range but just couldn’t find the back of the net.
Heading into stoppage time, Bohs looked the more likely to find a winner in the dying seconds of the game.
Last kick of the game came from a Ross Tierney cross into the box to possibly meet a Bohs head but was safely caught by Doherty which deemed to be the kick of the game ending in a 1-1 draw.
Speaking to Stephen O’Donnell after the game he stated “We did everything bar win the game, so a little frustrating “he also stated “we don’t go by results we go by performances “.
Bohs play Sligo at home and then the big Dublin derby versus Rovers the week after, they’ll look to have found their form back by then.
Bohemians
1 Kacper Chorazka, 5 Sadou Diallo, 7 Connor Parsons, 8 Harry Vaughan, 9 Colm Whelan 10 Dawson Devoy, 12 Patrick Hickey, 15 Senan Mullen, 16 Darragh Power, 22 Sam Todd, 23 Zane Myers
Substitutions
Paul Girard Walters GK, Niall Morahan, Jordan Flores, Adam McDonnell (58), Leigh Kavanagh, Cian Byrne (74), Ross Tierney (58), Josh Harpur, Markuss Strods(58)
Waterford
21 Arlo Doherty, 5 John Mahon, 7 Conor Carty, 8 Evan McLaughlin, 9 Padraig Amond, 10 Conan Noonan, 14 Jesse Dempsey, 16 Hayden Cann ,22 Ronan Mansfield, 27 Dean McMenamy,43 Alan Zborowski
Substitutions
25 Jason Healy, 2 Jordan Houston, 3 Bernardo Pexixoto Couto, 6 Cian Barret (68), 11 Trae Bailey Coyle, 13 Kevin Long (46), 15 Luke Heeney (62), 17 Jordan Mackenzie Faria(78), 20 Jorgen Voilas (77)
Referee
Declan Toland
Man of the match
Arlo Doherty was my man of the match because if it wasn’t for him, Bohs would have had maybe 2-3 more goals that were tipped over or saved brilliantly from him, also his overall distribution was excellent and helped Waterford get up the pitch on several occasions