Sligo snatch late equaliser

With only a point separating these two struggling sides, both were desperate to win; but in the end the status quo prevailed with Sligo coming from behind to snatch a late equaliser.

Played in driving wind and rain, United's Mark Reid broke the deadlock on 39 minutes when he pounced on a Paul Scully shot from a John Power free that was blocked down by a defender. He gave goalkeeper Nick Broujos no chance from 12 yards.

Rovers' equaliser came five minutes from time when susbstitute Sean Flannery produced a delightful overhead kick from an Anthony Callaghan cross.

The game, however, started in farce and quickly turned to controversy. Three members of the Waterford team - Karl Gannon, Steve Brown, and Jo Keith were caught in traffic en route from Dublin and did not make the kick off.

Manager Mike Flanagan rejigged his selection; but still started with only 10 men, leaving the centreforward berth vacant for Steve Brown. But within two minutes he changed his mind and Reid took the field to bring the Blues up to full strength.

Then the referee Pat Whelan of Dublin refused to allow the late players on as substitutes, despite strong protests from Waterford officials, who claimed Whelan was not interpreting the rules correctly, as the delayed players were not required to be in the grounds at the time of the kick off.

WATERFORD UNITED: Devine, Power, Kelleher, Lacey, Riordan, Smith, Scully, Griffin, Reid, Kabia, Golden. Sub: Quinlan for Golden (71 mins).

SLIGO ROVERS: Broujos, Callaghan, Huchinson, Reid, Berks, Charles, Jones, Shannon, Hallows, O'Grady, Rowlands. Subs: Flannery for Shannon (27 mins); Hare for Jones (68 mins).

Referee: P Whelan (Dublin)