DUNDALK snatched victory over Home Farm/Everton with a last minute goal in a very poor game in icy conditions at Oriel Park last night.

It was fitting that the winner was scored by Peter Withnell, the one player on the Dundalk side who kept on trying in what seemed a hopeless cause.

Dundalk's signing from Glasgow Celtic, Graham Morrison, failed to impress in the centre of the defence. Indeed this was a very disjointed performance by a Dundalk team facing relegation.

Home Farm were no better, although there was a good performance in defence by Steven McGuinness while George Shaw tried his best up front without much support.

Shaw got the first goal after 20 minutes. It came in haphazard fashion after the Dundalk defence failed to clear a free kick taken by; John Coady, and Shaw's poke ate the ball bounced over the diving Les Fridge for a soft goal.

That early goal looked like giving Home Farm the points until a moment of inspiration in the 75th minute. Brian Byrne hit a great cross from the left which was met perfectly by Withnell's head to give Robert Forde in the Home Farm goal no chance.

The Home Farm defence fell to pieces after this setback and Forde was lucky not to be sent off shortly afterwards when taking down Withnell on the edge of the area.

The winner came when Withnell chased yet another long ball down the centre, and after a mix up between Forde and Owen Heary, Withnell somehow managed to steer the ball into the Farm net.

Eight players were booked, five from Dundalk - McNulty, Crawley, Morrison, Hewitt and Byrne - and three from Home Farm - Forde, Eccles and Shaw.