Melia to the fore as St Pat's make it three on the spin

Teenager Mason Melia scored for the third match running as St Patrick's Athletic made it three league wins on the bounce for the first time this season.

Having hit their winner in Dundalk last time out, 16-year-old striker Melia added to Zach Elbouzedi’s opener in capping a dominant first half by Stephen Kenny’s side as they beat Blues for the first time in six games.

FULL MATCH DETAILS

Aidan Keena scored a late third as St Pat's, who, though they remain seventh, are now two points behind fifth-placed Waterford and five off third place with six games to play.

Brimming with confidence, St Pat’s started positively, coming within inches of the lead inside three minutes.

Anto Breslin found Chris Forrester down the inside left channel with a ball out of defence. The Saints talisman laid it into the path of Brandon Kavanagh whose first time shot came back off Sam Sargeant’s crossbar.

Minutes later, Sergeant, back between the Waterford posts following an eight-week lay off with a wrist injury, turned Kavanagh’s deceptive delivery round a post.

Sergeant had to be at his best again on 24 minutes with the save of the first half as St Pat’s maintained the pressure.

Kavanagh, central to much of St Pat’s attacking threat, spun Rowan McDonald to let fly with a shot that was destined for the top corner before Sergeant pushed it round a post.

It was the half hour before Blues threatened, skipper Barry Baggley forcing Joseph Anang to touch his arced delivery out for Waterford's first corner of the night.

Sprung to life, Blues worked Anang again four minutes later.

Baggley and Padraig Amond set-up wingback Ryan Burke whose drive was batted away by the keeper.

Just when Waterford thought they had got a foothold in the game, they were suckerpunched