National League/Waterford United 1; Derry City 1: Joint-second Waterford United were held to a draw by second-from-bottom Derry City at the RSC last night in an uncompromising and sometimes bad-tempered game that only sparked in patches.

The Blues took a second-half lead through Mark Clifford but were rocked on their heels by an individual piece of magic from Michael Holt that earned Derry a point, which on balance they deserved.

United took the lead on 66 minutes when a John Frost throw-in was touched on by Vinnie Sullivan to Neale Fenn, the former Spurs and Peterborough striker, who had come on as a substitute for Darryl Murphy only two minutes earlier.

Fenn cleverly laid off the ball for Mark Clifford and the stylish number seven drilled his effort low and hard into the net from 20 yards.

However, six minutes later, just when it looked as if the Blues were on their way to victory, Derry equalised against the run of play.

Michael Holt skilfully took down a poor ball out of the Waterford defence and, surrounded by three United players, calmly picked his spot and sent an unstoppable, angled shot high into the net from 25 yards.

The Blues tried hard to regain the lead but Derry's resolve was hardened by their goal and the home players were unable to unhinge a tough, no-nonsense defence a second time.

Waterford had looked the more dangerous in the first half as they took the game to the visitors from the kick-off but they just couldn't add the final scoring touch.

WATERFORD UNITED: Connor, McLoughlin (Mallon, 70 minutes), Frost, Breen, Byrne, O'Brien (Mulcahy 33 minutes), Clifford, Reilly, Waters, Murphy (Fenn, 64 minutes), Sullivan.

DERRY CITY: Gough, McCallion, Hargan, Hutton, McLoughlin, Doherty, Molyneaux, Simms (McGlynn, 72 minutes), Coyle (Beckett, 48 minutes) Martyn, Holt.

Referee: A Kelly (Cork)