This was a vital win for Waterford; but they made hard work of their task because, despite dominating most of the play, they had to rely on a penalty for the winner and were always vulnerable to an attack on the break from Sligo.

That said, only some brilliant goal-keeping from Nick Brujos kept the home team at bay. In particular he denied Stephen Grant on no fewer than five occasions in the last 18 minutes.

The goal arrived on the stroke of halftime. Barry Wood was heading goal-wards when he was upended by Wesley Charles and Derek McGrath planted the subsequent penalty firmly in the left-hand corner of the net.

Coincidentally when United defeated Sligo at the RSC earlier in the season, it was through a penalty goal conceded by Charles and converted by McGrath.

Waterford introduced Brendan Markey and Grant for McGrath and Wood on 71 minutes.

But despite peppering the visitors' goal, they could find no way past Brujos to consolidate their lead.

Waterford United: Devine; Smith, Frost, Reynolds, Riordan, Whittle, Kirby, Gannon, Wood, Griffin, McGrath. Subs: Stirling for Griffin (60 mins); Grant and Markey for Wood and McGrath (71 mins).

Sligo Rovers: Brujos, Kennedy, Lynch, Rossiter, McLynn, Charles, Birks, Byrne, Shannon, O'Grady, Marshall. Subs: Moran for Marshall (half-time); Gilroy for O'Grady (65 mins).

Referee: P Whelan (Dublin).