Farren keeps title hopes alive with late strike

Waterford Utd - 0 Derry City - 1: The whirlwind battle for the league crown was still spinning last night as Derry City kept the pressure on Shelbourne by joining them at the top of the table.

The winning goal came in controversial circumstances in the 93rd minute, seconds after Waterford were denied a penalty by referee Paul Tuite after Clive Delaney dragged down Darryl Kavanagh in the area.

Derry swept upfield and, from a throw-in by Cillian Brennan that was touched on by Delaney, Mark Farren crashed the ball to the net from point-blank range.

The Waterford players and fans were furious and the referee was booed as he left the pitch.

Play was fast and furious in what was a tough encounter, but, on the night, United raised their game and one would not think one team was challenging for the title while the other was trying to get off the bottom of the table.

Derry were still without defenders Darren Kelly, Stephen O'Flynn and Ken Oman, while Waterford were minus suspended captain, Alan Reynolds, and fast-running Ger McCarthy.

Derry should have taken the lead in the 30th minute when, in a rather harsh decision, the referee awarded a penalty after Alan Keely was adjudged to have taken down Gary Beckett. Farren's kick was well taken but goalkeeper Ben Spicer dived full-length to his right to save.

The home team might well have taken the lead on 17 minutes when Robert Brosnan ran on to a long ball out of defence by Keely but he fluffed the volley.

United's Kavangh broke clear 12 minutes into the second half but was taken down by Eddie McCallion as he raced towards goal. Alan Cawley took the free from 26 yards but his effort sailed over the bar.

United finished the stronger side and, eight minutes from time, substitute Morgan Pender crossed from the left to Kavanagh who unleashed a powerful shot from 15 yards but goalkeeper David Forde pulled off the save of the night to keep the ball out.

WATERFORD UNITED: Spicer, Flynn, Hedderman, Keely, Browne, Hayes, Chambers, Kavanagh, Brosnan (Young, 90 mins), Cawley (Pender, 73 mins), P McCarthy. Subs not used: Casey, Fitzgerald, Dunphy.

DERRY CITY: Forde, McCallion (McGlynn, 72 mins), Hutton, Delaney, Higgins (Martyn, 69 mins), Beckett (McHugh, 50 mins), Brennan, Deery, Molloy, Farren, McCourt. Subs not used: Hargan, Jennings.

Referee: Paul Tuite (Dublin).