St Patrick's Athletic (1)

St Patrick's Athletic 1 - Waterford 1

Ryan Burke scored against his former club as Waterford moved one-point clear of the relegation play-offs with a 1-1 draw away to St Patrick's Athletic at Richmond Park.

A second draw in a week saw Pats' surge for a European spot stall for the second time in a week following Tuesday's Dublin Derby draw with Bohemians.

Mason Melia, who played his final game in Inchicore before departing to Tottenham Hotspur, opened the scoring for Saints before half time.

But virtually the last touch of the first half saw relegation-threatened Waterford draw level as as Burke nodded home a corner from on-loan Shamrock Rovers playmaker Conan Noonan.

The result leaves St Pat's in a precarious position, out of contention to finish third with just one game remaining, while their fourth place spot is under threat as Bohs, level on points, have a game in hand.

Saints made all the early running with an ball breaking to Melia, which the Newtownmountkennedy man could not make contact with.

Waterford had a chance of their own moments later as a loose ball found Sam Glenfield but he was well closed down by Joe Anang in the Saints goal.

St Pat's midfielder Barry Baggley found Jamie Lennon with a free kick but the anchor midfielder could not steer his header on target. And Melia was livid when he failed to convert midway through the half as he was played through with a reverse ball by Chris Forrester but Stephen McMullan was out rapidly to close the space.

McMullan saved well from Melia once more following a good cross from Northern Ireland international Ryan McLaughlin before Simon Power drove over the bar.

St Pat's did get their reward five minutes from the break as a great low ball from Jay McClelland found Melia and he he ducked around the keeper to slot into an empty net.

Waterford would not let up, however, and they equalised two minutes into injury time as Burke got on the end of Noonan's wide ball to nod emphatically home.

Saints continued to have the greater momentum in the second half, Leavy driving over from the D before Forrester hit a weak shot straight at McMullan.

McMullan denied Forrester again as he ducked down low to deny Forrester after Baggley had done brilliantly to release his vice-captain in space.

Both teams had chances in the latter stages as Pádraig Amond found Tommy Lonergan to shoot wide before Leavy set up Jamaican Jordon Garrick to pull wide.

The game ended in a tame stalemate and the Inchicore side will be more disappointed as early promise gave way and compounds their European woes.

© rte.ie

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St Patrick's Athletic 1 - Waterford 1

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