Galway United and Waterford FC played out a seven-goal thriller at Eamonn Deacy Park, as Kris Twardek's two goals proved pivotal in the Tribesmen's 4-3 victory on home soil.
Both teams came into tonight’s encounter on the back of losses - Waterford were dismantled by Dundalk 5-0, while United were narrowly defeated 1-0 by table-toppers Bohemians.
On a wet and windy Monday evening, the home outfit started the brighter in an action-packed encounter on Corribside.
The first shot in anger arrived when Matty Wolfe took the ball on the half turn before cannoning a long-range left-footed strike off the post. United continued to create openings, and, a few minutes later, in the 10th minute, a sublime Aaron Bolger pass unlocked the Waterford defence, which led to the opener. The goal, scored by the in-form Kris Twardek, was clinically finished into the bottom corner by the Canadian to put United in front.
Twardek continued to look threatening with his movement, and he could have nicked his second five minutes later when he latched onto a David Hurley pass, but he was unable to manufacture meaningful contact on his effort.
As the Blues slowly edged themselves back into the contest, they were provided a lifeline in the 35th minute when a dangerous Luke Heeney cross was headed into his own net by Gianfranco Facchineri. The leveller rocked a usually resolute United defence, and one Waterford goal soon became two when Pádraig Amond netted his first goal of the campaign in the 38th minute.
The experienced striker got on the end of a Jorgen Voilas header before striking an emphatic volley past Evan Watts to turn the game on its head.In response, the Tribesmen searched for an equaliser, as Stephen McMullan did well to deal with a Wolfe strike, before Lee Devitt directed a header narrowly wide of the post. In the final attack of added time in the first period, United did draw level, thanks to a spot kick, after Bolger was adjudged to have been fouled by Heeney in the box.
Hurley stood up to the penalty and sent McMullan the wrong way to send the sides in level at the break. The second half saw both sides create further openings in attack, as Hurley first tested McMullan with a low effort, before Killian Brouder had to be sharp to block an Amond strike. Another decisive moment in the match materialised when United’s player of the season to date, Twardek, netted his fourth goal of the campaign.
As the clock struck 60, Hurley teed up Twardek in the box, who once again demonstrated composure, as he arrowed a left-footed shot into the bottom corner to give the Tribesmen the advantage.
Watching on, even though the game was taking place in the early stages of the Premier Division season, it had all the feel of a six-pointer fixture. In a tense final 25 minutes, John Caulfield was sent off for a decision he didn’t agree with, while Waterford failed to make use of aerial opportunities in the opposition penalty area.
In the very late stages of the contest, the drama didn’t let up. Firstly, in the 89th minute, United substitute Frantz Pierrot bagged his first goal in maroon after being in the right place at the right time to make it 4-2, while two minutes later, Waterford responded with a Tommy Lonergan penalty.
The Blues’ third of the evening would only turn out to be a consolation goal as the Tribesmen held out to claim an important victory.
Galway United: Watts; Devitt, Parker (Williams 80), Brouder, Facchineri; Bolger (Lomboto 80), Hurley, Keohane (McCarthy 46), Twardek; Wolfe (Barratt 69), Walsh (Pierrot 54).
Waterford FC: McMullan; Couto, Zborowski, Mansfield, Cann; Glenfield, Heeney (McMenamy 77), Coyle (Lonergan 69), Voilas (Carty 69); Noonan, Amond.
Referee: Kevin O'Sullivan
