Waterford United scored their first goal and collected their first points of the campaign when they defeated Sligo Rovers by a penalty goal at the RSC last night.

Apart from a rasping shot from Conor O'Grady which almost caught United napping after only two minutes Waterford completely dominated the first-half.

Gerard Stirling on three occasions and Robert Griffin went close before they broke the deadlock on 33 minutes.

Karl Gannon lofted the ball over the defence and Jason Kabia was turning for goal when he was hauled down by Wesley Charles. Derek McGrath converted the penalty with a crisp shot into the corner of the net.

Sligo's best period was midway through the second-half. A shot by Padraic Moran was taken off the line by Tim McGrath on 70 minutes and less than a minute later a 30-yard drive by O'Grady was tipped over the bar for a corner by goalkeeper Michael Devine.

The highlight of the game was a scintillating run by Alan Kirby from inside his own half on 59 minutes.

He could have opted to shoot but unselfishly passed to Kabia whose close range effort was blocked down by James McInally.

Waterford United: Devine, Hislop, Frost, Derek McGrath, Tim McGrath, Smith, Kirby, Griffin, Gannon, Kabia, Stirling. Subs: Wood for Kabia (83 mins).

Sligo Rovers: Boswell, Rossiter, Bonnar, Birks, McLynn, Charles, McInally, Shannon, Khalifi, O'Grady, Moran. Subs: Marshall for McLynn (half-time), Callaghan for Khalifi (65 mins).

Referee: A O'Regan (Cork)