Troubled Sligo Rovers got the perfect tonic with a well deserved victory over fellow strugglers, Waterford United, at the Showgrounds on Saturday night.
Still reeling from the resignation of their manager Jim McInally and the previous week's trouncing by Cork City, Sligo displayed a lot of spirit and were good value for a victory which lifted them out of the bottom three.
The only goal of a tense match came in the 33rd minute. Paul Bonner created the danger with a teasing cross from the left and when Waterford keeper Michael Devine misjudged the flight of Padraig Moran's header, Dale Gray pounced to slam the loose ball into the net.
Earlier, Gray had been denied what looked a certain score when Sean Riordan cleared his 10th minute effort off the line.
Another goalline clearance was needed to keep out a Wesley Charles effort eight minutes from time as Sligo put in a strong finish.
Waterford had their moments in a free-flowing second half and Ger Stirling, unmarked, really should have done better with a header from eight yards in the 53rd minute.
SLIGO ROVERS: Broujos; Davey, Bonner, Rossiter, Sheridan, Charles, Marshall, Birks, Shannon, Gray, Moran. Subs: Lynch for Marshall 75 mins, Boswell for Brujos 87 mins.
WATERFORD UNITED: Devine; Smith, Frost, O'Brien, Riordan, Wattle, Kirby, Grant, McGrath, Iorfa, Stirling. Subs: Griffin for O'Brien 67 mins, Markey for Iorfa 77 mins.
Referee: A O'Regan (Cork).
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