Waterford leave it late to beat Drogheda and exit drop zone

Substitutes Junior Ouitirna and Prince Mutswunguma combined to win it

Waterford’s Jack Stafford celebrates after the game with Darragh Power. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho
Waterford’s Jack Stafford celebrates after the game with Darragh Power. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho

Drogheda United 1 Waterford FC 2

The Waterford revolution continues apace as Marc Bircham’s team navigated their way out of the relegation places with a late win over Drogheda United.

Bircham has used his extensive contacts within the British game to add extensively to his squad since his arrival at the club.

Two debutants, veteran defender Greg Halford and ex-Spurs youngster Phoenix Patterson started in Drogheda.

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Glancing header

John Martin opened the scoring shortly after half time. His glancing header helped Shane Griffin's free-kick past Davod Odumosu. Drogheda had created more to that point but will rue not taking at least one.

Dinny Corcoran should have scored within three minutes but skewed wide when well placed. Drogheda have no clean sheets in 11 now and a failure to take chances will likely be punished.

Despite Jake Hyland's equaliser, substitutes Junior Ouitirna and Prince Mutswunguma combined to win it.

Ouitirna fired in with seven minutes on the clock. Waterford now move above Finn Harps, for the time being.

Anthony Wordsworth was dismissed in injury time, but by then, the game was won.

DROGHEDA: Odumosu; Heeney (Adeyemo, 87), Phillips, O'Reilly, Kane; Deegan, Hyland; Markey, Murray, Doyle; Corcoran.

WATERFORD: Murphy; Ferguson (Stafford, 46), Halford, Evans; Power, Griffin, Wordsworth, O'Keeffe, Martin; Patterson (Junior, 75); Kavanagh (Mutswunguma, 69).

Referee: D Dunne