Waterford United take on Wexford Youths at the RSC this Saturday (KO 7.00pm) in the unaccustomed role of table toppers.

Last weekend’s awesome 4-1 victory at Sporting Fingal lifted the Blues to the number one spot for the first time in 2009, after UCD could only manage a draw at Jackman Park, and in addition was the ninth game in a wonderful unbeaten League run. The United players showed great character once more to come from an early goal down to demolish what manager Stephen Henderson called before the match “a premier league team in all but name”, and did it just four days after knocking actual premier league opposition, in Shamrock Rovers, out of the EA Sports Cup.

The spirit in the team is sky high at the moment, and at both end of the pitch the small squad is going about its business with ruthless efficiency. At the back, the Blues boast the meanest defence in the league, with only five condeded in twelve league matches thus far. And in attack, ahead of Thursday’s match in the Belfield Bowl at least, United are level with Fingal as the league’s top scoring side, and their regular front two of Willie John Kiely and Graham Cummins head up the divisional goalscoring charts.

A daunting prospect in store for any visiting side then, but Waterford will not be taking the Youths challenge lightly, and though they have had the upper hand in their encounters thus far, several of those games have been close run things, not least the reverse fixture at Ferrycarrig Park back in March, when United were at times clinging on to an early Kiely goal. There is also the fact that, even with four Blues victories and one draw, there has not been more than one goal between the sides in their last five meetings, and the Youths current position in 5th place on the table is proof enough of their huge improvement this season.

Despite a litany of niggling problems, no more than par for the course in a small squad which is competing on four fronts at present, there are no injury worries ahead of Saturday’s game. Full back Seamus Long, though, will sit out the match after his red card at the Morton Stadium last weekend.

Henderson Quotes:
On the Fingal game:
“Every one of the players are brilliant guys who have pride in that blue shirt.”
“Their work rate is unbelieveable, and they just don’t know when they are beaten.”
“Of course it’s great to be top of the league but we are not getting carried away. We will not lose the run of ourselves because that is not in the nature of any of the players in that dressing room.”
“Our form of late has been fantastic but we have to remember it is early days still. It is important that we don’t get carried away with ourselves because we have achieved nothing yet.”
“We have a week now to prepare for the Wexford game and that is great because over the past month it has been one game after another in quickfire fashion.”
“Although the perception is there are only four teams vying for the promotion places, it will be teams like Wexford and Limerick that have the potential to spoil the party. On this basis it is so important that we approach the game in the right frame of mind.”

Suspensions:
Seamus Long (1 match automatic – red card)

Injury Update:
none

League Top Scorers:
9 -     Willie John Kiely
8 -     Graham Cummins
2 -     Gary Dunphy
         Kenny Browne
1 -     Paul McCarthy
         Joe Mulcahy
         Kevin Waters

Top Scorers (All Competitive):
11 -    Willie John Kiely (2 EA Sports Cup)
9 -     Graham Cummins (1 EA Sports Cup)
2 -     Gary Dunphy
         Kenny Browne
         David Grincell (2 MSC)
         Joe Mulcahy (1 MSC)
         Kevin Waters (1 EA Sports Cup)
         John Kearney (1 MSC, 1 EA Sports Cup)
1 -     Paul McCarthy

Form:
League: DWLWW WWWWW DW
All: WDWLW WWWWW WWWDW W

Last Match:    Sporting Fingal 1 (Zayed 1)  -  Waterford United 4 (Kiely 15, 77, Cummins 40, Browne 70)

Previous Meetings:
13 Mar 09       L       Wexford Youths   v   Waterford United            0 – 1
19 Sep 08       L       Waterford United  v  Wexford Youths              1 – 0
18 Jul 08        L        Wexford Youths  v  Waterford United             1 – 1
09 May 08      L        Waterford United  v  Wexford Youths             1 – 0
07 Mar 08       L       Wexford Youths  v   Waterford United            1 – 2
02 Apr 07      LC       Waterford United  v  Wexford Youths             3 – 0

Results This Season:
22 May 09          a            Sporting Fingal (LOIFD)         4-1       W
19 May 09          h            Shamrock Rovers (EASC)       2-1       W
15 May 09          a            UCD (LOIFD)                       0-0       D
09 May 09          h            Kildare County (LOIFD)         2-0       W
04 May 09          a            FC Carlow (EASC)                3-1       W
02 May 09          h            Mervue United (LOIFD)         2-0       W
24 Apr 09           a            Limerick FC (LOIFD)             2-0       W
22 Apr 09           a            Clonmel Town (MSC)            2-1       W
18 Apr 09           h            Monaghan United (LOIFD)     6-0       W
11 Apr 09           a            Finn Harps (LOIFD)              3-1       W
04 Apr 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

Next 5 Matches:
02 Jun 09            a           Rockmount (MSC Final)
05 Jun 09            a           Shelbourne (LOIFD)
13 Jun 09            h           Carrigaline United (FAIFC 3rd Round)
20 Jun 09            h           Athlone Town (LOIFD)
04 Jul 09             a           Longford Town (LOIFD)

Betting:
Waterford: 1/2
Wexford: 5/1
Draw: 5/2