It was another bad day at the office for Finn Harps as they suffered another heavy away defeat in Waterford.
Waterford FC…6 Finn Harps…1
Having suffered a heavy defeat on Waterford manager Keith Long’s debut game earlier in the season, Harps were hoping it might have been beginner’s luck.
Harps brought Ellis Farrar and Micheal Harris into their starting line-up from last week’s defeat by Wexford Youths in a bid to freshen things up.
And Harris almost got them off to a flying start, forcing a good save from Paul Martin in just the second minute.
But that’s where Harps’ luck left them as just a minute later Harps were behind.
Conor Parsons picked up the ball in midfield, drove forward and beat Tim Heimer with a brilliant curling shot for a super opening goal.
It almost got worse for Harps a minute later, as only a super save by Heimer denied Roland Idowu a second Waterford goal while five minutes later the Harps keeper denied Ryan Burke fine strike.
In the 16th minute Heimer was at it again , this time denying Ronan Coughlan with another outstanding save to keep Harps in the game in these difficult early stages.
But it couldn’t last and two goals in three minutes put the home side in total control and the game looking as if might go the same way it did when the teams met the last time at this venue with Waterford hitting Dave Rogers’ for seven.
It was 2-0 in the 21th minute , Conor Parsons tapping in Barry Baggley’s corner for his second , and 3-0 three minutes later , as Parsons turning provider , his through ball found Ronan Coughlan and the United top scorer converted his 26th goal of the season and you had too think it was game over.
However Harps got a lifeline in the 31st minute when they were awarded a penalty and Captain for the night Ryan Flood converted , 3-1.
Waterford responded with two quick attacks , both of which almost produced a goal and both involved Roland Idowu , firstly hitting the post and then forcing an excellent goal-line headed clearance from Daithi McCallion.
The home side kept the pressure up until half-time but it remained 3-1 at the break and a much improved performance needed if Harps are to get back in the game.
It was Wasterford keeper Paul Martin who was called into swift action five minutes into the second-half , producing a super save save to deny a Ryan Flood special , the keeper just able to touch the piledriver onto his crossbar.
After this let-off Waterford upped the ante again and in the 57th minute that man Ronan Coughlan made it 4-1 with his second goal, firing low past Heimer into the bottom corner.
Things settled down in terms of goal chances until the 77th minute when Waterford added their fifth goal. Again Tim Heimer made an initial fine save from Coughlan’s free-kick but was helpless as substitute Eddie Nolan followed up to slot home to make it 5-1.
The home team made a triple substitution in the 82nd minute and one of those Thomas Oluma produced a super run down the left-side before setting up Roland Idowu for goal number six for Waterford.
It finished 6-1 to the home side , another heavy defeat for Finn Harps and Team Manager Dave Rodgers will be keen to get all his recent signings involved in the match-day action in the two home games to come against Bray Wanderers and Cobh Ramblers .
Waterford Utd FC: Paul Martin, Ryan Burke ( Ronan Mansfield 82mins), , Giles Phillips ( Eddie Nolan 64mins) Roland Idowu , Barry Baggley, Shane Griffin ( Dean Larkin 73mins), , Niall O’Keeffe, Conor Parsons , Ronan Coughlan ( Thomas Oluma 82mins ), Romeo Akacukwu , Killian Cantwill ( Adam Queally 82mins)
Finn Harps: Tim Heimer , Caoimhin Porter, Noe Baba, Ellis Farrar ( Sean O Kane 80mins), Shane McMonagle ( Kevin Jordan 52mins), Daithi McCallion, Damian Duffy ( Aaron McLaughlin 52mins), Ryan Flood ,Sean O’Donnell, Filip Da Silva ( Max Johnston 62mins), Michael Harris ( Katlego Mashigo 52mins),
