Waterford United play host to Mervue United for the first ever time this Saturday at the RSC (KO 3.00pm).

This is the first time the sides have met in any form, in what is the Galway outfit’s first league season, and so there is no past history to give any indication of how the game will pan out. Mervue, however, have made a very encouraging start to their inaugural season, and currently have 10 points to show for their 8 games to date, which includes three wins, two of them on the road!

The Blues are in scintillating form though, and go into the game full of confidence on the back of five straight victories, something they’ve not achieved for many, many years. Last week the side overcame a tough Limerick challenge, showing patience and resilience as well as ruthlessness in front of goal to keeps their hosts out and then take the chances that came their way, and they left Jackman Park with what will be a rare 2-0 away win. Both forwards scored in that game, and both are sitting at the top of the league’s scoring charts, in inspired form at the minute. Added to this the two goals scored by David Grincell in the recent Munster Senior Cup match, and Stephen Henderson’s striking options have never looked so good. An abundance of strength and skill in midfield, and a mean defence that have conceded just four times in eight games, and the team is looking the part as the first round of games draws to a close.

Henderson will have no suspensions to worry about for the coming game, and midfielder Paul Carey is the only slight injury doubt with an ankle knock.

Henderson Quotes:
On the Limerick match:
“This was a fantastic result for us, under very difficult circumstances.”
“As I always said about this team, if you want to play football we can play, if you want a battle then we can do that as well.”
“Limerick are a good side, one of the best we have played to date this season. They had five players spread across the middle and their No. 10 [Wayne Colbert] was allowed make some good runs into our box, but thankfully we put that right in the second half.”
“It was not pretty by any means, but I felt we dominated the second half completely.”
“It was our defence that really pleased me this evening, we never looked like conceding, the clean sheet really pleased me and when they did get a chance Michael Devine was excellent between the posts.”
“At the moment we have Willie John [Kiely], Graham Cummins and David Grincell all in good scoring form, and they will worry any defence.”
“Waterford United at the moment are a well balanced side with each player giving his all for the club, and that is a combination that could take us far.”

On the season ahead:
“It’s early days yet but I am very pleased with the opening that we have got in this campaign.”
“Now we move on to our next game at home to Mervue next Saturday and hopefully pick up another three points.”
“Nobody is getting carried away with our recent form, we will just go game-to-game and see where it takes us.”
“It’s early days yet, after all we are only nine games in, and if we continue to do our business then the league table will look after itself.”

 
Suspensions:
none

Injury Update:
Paul Carey (slight doubt)

Top Scorers:
7 -     Graham Cummins
6 -     Willie John Kiely
2 -     Gary Dunphy
1 -     Paul McCarthy

Form:
League: DWLWW WWW
All: (WWW)WD WLWWW WW

Last Match: Limerick FC 0  -  Waterford United 2  (Kiely 62, Cummins 71 pen)

Previous Meetings:
none

Results This Season:
24 Mar 09           a            Limerick FC (LOIFD)             2-0       W
18 Mar 09           h            Monaghan United (LOIFD)     6-0       W
11 Mar 09           a            Finn Harps (LOIFD)              3-1       W
04 Mar 09           h            Longford Town (LOIFD)        1-0        W
29 Mar 09           a            Athlone Town (LOIFD)          2-1       W
20 Mar 09           h            Shelbourne (LOIFD)             0-1        L
13 Mar 09           a            Wexford Youths (LOIFD)       1-0       W
07 Mar 09           h            Sporting Fingal (LOIFD)        1-1        D
28 Feb 09           h            Douglas Hall (MSC)              2-0       W
20 Feb 09           a            Mayfield United (Fr)             4-1       W
13 Feb 09           h            Junior League XI (Fr)           3-0       W
07 Feb 09           a            Cork City (Fr)                     1-0       W

Betting:
Waterford: 2/7
Mervue: 15/2
Draw: 7/2