Even though the scoreline was blank there was no shortage of goalmouth action in this fiercely contested game, which was at times bad tempered and very physical.

Waterford may take more from the result because it was their best performance in a long time and ends a morale-crushing run of defeats. They should have gone in front after only eight minutes when they were awarded a penalty for a Shaun Maher foul on Dominic Iorfa. Iorfa took the penalty himself, but Bohemians goalkeeper Michael Dempsey dived low to his left and smothered the ball on the line.

Bohemians' best effort in the first half was a powerful 30-yard snap-shot by Thomas Byrne, but United goalkeeper Michael Devine saved comfortably.

The opening 10 minutes of the second half was packed with action. Derek Swann went close twice for Bohemians and Mark Reid and Alan Kirby both shaved the woodwork for United.

Waterford United: Devine, Smith, Frost, D McGrath, Riordan, T McGrath, Kirby, Flood, Wood, Iorfa, Harkin. Subs: Kabia for Wood (7 mins); Reid for Kabia (half-time).

Bohemians: Dempsey, O'Connor, Brunton, Maher, T Byrne, Hunt, P Byrne, Doyle, Swann, Kelly, Mullen. Subs: Lawlor for Kelly (half-time); Hanrahan for Maher (47 mins); Mooney for Paul Byrne (73 mins).

Referee: A O'Regan (Cork).