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eircom National League First Division

Date	09/11/2001
Score (Blues First)	5 - 0
Venue	RSC, Waterford
Kick Off	7.30 PM
Attendance	1,100
Weather	Cool and dry
Referee	M. O'Brien
Goal Scorers	Colin O'Brien 2,Dempsey, Leahy, Whittle D
Cards	Yellow: None
Pitch	Good surface

After the saga of previous 5 days, PP's Blue and White army took to the pitch against League Leaders Finn Harps. This was a chance for the players to show their support for their manager and to claw back three points on promotion favorite's Finn Harps.

The game was only a minute old when Colin O'Brien scored his first goal for Waterford as he latched onto a loose ball inside the penalty box. This early goal lifted the players and fans after the doom and gloom of the last week, when it was reported that PP had been sacked by the directors of Waterford United PLC. The fans who were in fine voice in the RSC, for the first time in many years, really got the team going and Paul Leahy added a second within 10 minutes with a superb strike from just outside the area. The Blues were 2 up and playing the best football seen in the RSC for sometime, with everyone wanting the ball the movement was good throughout the team. A few minutes later and the 1,100 plus crowd were again out of their seats as Gary Dempsey scored his eight goal of the league campaign and the Blues third as Finn Harps were ripped apart at the back. Chants of "Paul Powers Blue and White army" rang around the RSC but the chant of the season "can we sack you every week" really sent roars of laughter from the home crowd and the players made their point to the men who run the Blues. The loyal fans though they were in heaven when Colin O'Brien popped up to score his second of the night and see Waterford take a four goal lead. With thirty minutes gone in the game the Blues fans just wanted to hear the final whistle from Referee Martin O'Brien from Clare. Harps manager Jonathan Speak tried to lift his players for the last 15 minutes of the half but failed to find the net as Binders handling was superb.

At half time what could PP say to his players who were chasing down every ball, finding each other with passing, and more importantly had scored four goals. In situations like this it is very easy to sit back and try to defend a big lead and Waterford did fall into this trap, but that is understandable in an usual position. Finn Harps did create chances in the second half but Binders reactions were excellent and he kept another clean sheet, even though he needs to come off his line a little quicker to help defence. Waterford did create some chances in the second period, but unlike the first half unfortunately they all fell to our forwards. Even though in this game we had scored four goals our strikers never looked like scoring and their movement and runs off the ball were nonexistent. The introduction of Thomas Fitzgerald with 15 minutes left in the game added much needed movement and I hope that Thomas is now over his injury and will be available to us for the rest of the season. The second half ended on a high note when David Whittle penalty thumped off the back of the net to give Waterford victory by 5 goals as we sent the Donegal club packing to made the long journey home.

After Harps robbery on the first game of the season in the RSC, it was nice to get one over on them. This win lifts the Blues into third spot only 3 points behind Finn Harps who still top the table. The Blues visit United Park next Friday to play Drogheda United who are currently second in the table and a victory in County Louth would really see the boys in blue start pushing for the automatic promotion spot to the Premier Division.