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Drogheda miss chance to go second after Waterford stalemate

Drogheda miss chance to go second after Waterford stalemate

DROGHEDA passed up the opportunity to steal a march in the European race after this stalemate where neither side did enough to win.Kevin Doherty's charges only needed one chance a week ago to shoot down Bohemians, snatching victory with a lethal counter in the dying stages.Here, they cobbled together more half chances than Waterford but they were never convincing in the final third and couldn't seal the deal for a second week running.Had Thomas Oluwa shown more awareness at the end of his 50-yard dash with the ball, it might have been a different story as Josh Thomas was waiting to tap home.He was their hero in Dalymount last Friday, but Oluwa went for glory himself and squandered the opportunity when Kyle White got back to making a brilliant tackle.And that was Waterford's gameplan - putting bodies on the line and winning their individual duels for a well-earned point.Drogheda signalled their intent early and Shane Farrell drilled a 25-yarder over before Oluwa did likewise, after twisting in the air to head Darragh Markey's cross.The FAI Cup holders had more chances in a tight first-half, with Oluwa pulling a ball back for Owen Lambe only for Ryan Burke to deflect his on-target effort to safety.Waterford took their time to get going, but when they did they carved out the best chance of that opening half.Ex-Arsenal man James Olayinka raided down the left and put a cross in which Conor Keeley headed away, but only as far as the lurking Conan Noonan.The on-loan Shamrock Rovers midfielder watched the dropping ball like a hawk and met it well with his left foot, but Luke Dennison made a flying save to thwart him.But just as the Blues were starting to impose themselves, they almost gifted Drogheda the opener had Oluwa's decision making not let him down.When a Waterford corner was cleared, the Drogs attacker picked up the ball midway inside his own half and set off on a scorching run to the opposite box.With Waterford's defence trying to scramble back, he was always winning the foot race and had strike partner Thomas for company in a 2 v1 battle.But instead of squaring to the unmarked, on-loan Swansea City ace, Oluwa went for glory.But White's brilliant, sliding intervention saved the Blues as the ball deflected out for a corner. To say Thomas was livid is putting it mildly.The Welshman did try to take matters into his own hands early in the second half but his low shot from the edge of the area was straight at goalkeeper Stephen McMullan.Soon after, Oluwa had another opportunity to break the deadlock but from an angle, he hesitated before firing into the side netting.
And thereafter neither side did enough to claim the points. Tommy Lonergan and Padraig Amond threatened briefly late on, but the defences ultimately won out.
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