Waterford United 1 - 0 Mervue United

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A lone goal from David Grincell kept Waterford United’s outside chance of reaching the League of Ireland First division playoffs alive after they got the better of Mervue United in a mediocre affair at the RSC last night.

The big talking point of a disappointing first half came on 41 minutes when David Grincell went to ground under a challenge from defender Martin Connolly and when referee Sean Grant pointed to the spot, Gary Dunphy had his spot kick saved by visiting goalkeeper Eoin Martyn.

Waterford did break the deadlock on 48 minutes when Stephen Grant split the Mervue defence with a sublime pass and after David Grincell raced clear on goal, he slipped a left-footed effort past the stranded keeper Martyn from six yards.

Gary Dunphy was just inches wide from doubling the Blues lead on 70 minutes when he latched onto a clearance from the visiting netminder after a Dave Warren corner kick and as Mervue failed to trouble keeper Kevin Burns, United held out for a much needed win ahead of their cup semi-final clash with Sligo Rovers.

Waterford United: Burns; Warren, Murray, Browne, Long (Fitzgerald `83); Grant, Dunphy, Kearney, Waters (Walsh `77); Grincell (Kiely `77), Sullivan

Mervue United: Martyn; Scally, Ludden, Connolly, Browne; Crehan, Lee (Douglas `77), Harty, Hoban; O’Dowd, Tierney

Referee: Sean Grant (Wexford)