Neither Waterford United nor St. Patrick s Athletic could gain advantage in this crucial, six-pointer relegation battle in the eircom League, Premier Division, at the RSC that was played a breakneck speed throughout.

With both sides desperately needing the points, the Blues led from midway in the first half. The game was extremely hard-fought but, on the balance of play, the visitors deserved their equaliser that came five minutes from full-time.

United opened the scoring on 19 minutes following a corner from the right by Kevin Waters. It was knocked out by Barry Prenderville but only as far as Waters who floated over a perfect cross into the path of the inrushing Vinne Sullivan. The striker didn’t break his stride and volleyed a glorious shot into the roof of the net from 14 yards for his third league goal.

The equaliser came five minutes from the end when Barry Prenderville thumped a huge ball upfield and St. Pats top-scorer, Robbie Doyle, volleyed a blockbuster to the net from 14 yards that screamed past goalkeeper Pakie Holden.

In fact, both goals came from almost the same spot and were very similar in execution.

Both sides had opportunities to score in a second-half where Pats took over at midfield. Sullivan and Dave Mulcahy went close for United but Michael Foley, Doyle and Glen Larsen should really have found the net for Pats before the late equaliser.

St. Pats might well have snatched all three points five minutes into time added on but Stephen Caffrey’s header from an Alan Reilly corner shaved the top-side of the cross-bar.