Galway United moved 10 points clear at the summit of the SSE Airtricity first division table following a valuable 2-1 win over promotion rivals Waterford FC in Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday.
United displayed character and resilience to shake off the disappointing loss to Longford, showing intent from the start.
Killian Brouder capitalised on good early work on the flank from Colm Horgan to force a save from Paul Martin, while Francely Lomboto, who enjoyed his best outing in a United shirt this season, made hay on the left soon after. His cut-back, however, could not attract a finish.
However, the opener came just after the half hour mark from the livewire Ed McCarthy. David Hurley produced a beautiful cross that sailed to the back post. McCarthy allowed the ball to come over his shoulder and volleyed beautifully back across the goal to find the bottom corner.
Lomboto could only find the side-netting moments later, and thereafter the visitors grew into the contest. Before the interval Brendan Clarke was called on to make a fine double save from Shane Griffin's free and Connor Parson's rebound.
The decisive moment came when a rash Griffin challenge on the returning Regan Donelon in the 67th minute resulted in a United penalty. Despite earlier struggles from the spot this season, David Hurley dispatched the biggest of all of them to the corner to make it 2-0.
The finish was more tense than the home crowd would have wanted. Ronan Coughlan, who has been in super form for Waterford, notched his 15th of the season with 10 minutes remaining with a cool finish. Nonetheless, Caulfield's troops held out for a famous win that created real daylight between themselves and their only current title challengers Waterford.
There is little time to savour the sweet victory as a tricky Wexford side visits Terryland tomorrow night (7.45pm ).
Despite decent recruitment in the off-season, Wexford had failed to make an early impact on the standings as they struggled for form. They exhibited their class on Monday last with a stirring 1-0 win away to Waterford, but had failed heretofore to string results together. However, they will provide one of the sterner tests in the division for United tomorrow as they seek to involve themselves in the play-off picture.
United will be buoyed by their win and encouraged that they could field their preferred back four again, albeit with Colm Horgan replaced at half-time. Thirty-six points out of 39 is a lofty achievement, but Waterford showed enough last Friday to suggest a big final tally will be needed to take the title. As such United will be eager to press home their advantage tomorrow and maintain their perfect home record.
