National League Premier Division: Frustrated Waterford United manager Gareth Cronin is demanding more consistency in refereeing practices following his side's controversial defeat to Bohemians over the weekend.

Cronin, in just his seventh game in charge, saw his players lose an early lead before going down 3-1 on a highly-charged Friday night at Dalymount Park.

Protecting their lead, his side then conceded in bizarre circumstances when Aidan O'Keefe fired home unmarked after the Waterford defence stopped playing following an offside flag. But match referee Dave McKeon overruled assistant Rhona Daly's call and waved play on, thus allowing Bohemians pull level.

Waterford strikers Ger McCarthy and Alan Cawley then saw red for remonstrating with the two match officials.

"I'm a football manager and if I make a mistake I get slaughtered by the fans, the board and ultimately I could get sacked," said Cronin. "If a player makes a mistake he gets dropped or released at the end of the season.

"But if a referee makes a mistake or gets criticised, they're protected. I want to know why can't they be like the rest of us and face and accept criticism?"

Sligo Rovers, meanwhile, came from two goals down to beat St Patrick's Athletic 3-2 at the Showgrounds on Saturday night.

Short three players through suspension, Sean Connor's side staged a remarkable recovery with goals from Matthew Judge (46 minutes), Darren Mansaram (87) and Chris Turner (penalty, 88) after Colm Foley (20) and Dave Mulcahy (41) had given St Pat's the lead.