Sligo Rovers 1 Waterford United 2: Dave Mulcahy threw relegation-threatened Waterford United a lifeline with a crucial second-half goal at the Showgrounds on Saturday night - but Sligo manager Paul Cooke was frustrated by his side's poor performance.

"I can't wait for the end of the season," Cooke said. And he had some harsh words for soccer match officials. "I don't know where we're going, it seems as if they can't wait to send someone to the stands," said Cooke.

Rovers were reduced to 10 men in the 65th minute when defender Daniel Ventre was shown a straight red card for a heavy tackle on Willie Joe Kiely. The Blues had just taken the lead through Mulcahy's 62nd-minute goal set up by Kiely and Ray Scully.

Waterford knocked their hosts out of the FAI Cup in a penalty shoot-out at the same venue back in August and they knew that on this occasion defeat would leave themselves in a desperate fight to avoid relegation.

They took the game to Sligo from the kick-off and were rewarded on 33 minutes when Vinny Sullivan beat Australian keeper Tomislay Arcaba with a solid header at the back post after good work from Dave Warren and Scully.

Dean Delaney in the Blues goal denied Fahrudin Kudozovic with a superb diving save after 40 minutes but the keeper was unable to prevent Kudozovic from firing an equaliser two minutes before half-time.

Blues boss Gareth Cronin described the win as a "massive three pointer" for his side."It was a big performance and a good result and we deserved to win," added Cronin.

SLIGO ROVERS: Arcaba, Ventre, Coleman, Peers, Foy, O'Grady, Hughes, Cash, Judge, Kudozovic, Cretaro. Subs: McKenzie for Coleman (59 mins); Gordon for Foy (59 mins); Manson for Cash (83 mins).

WATERFORD UNITED: Delaney, Flynn, Breen, Hayes, Hederman, Warren, Mulcahy, McCarthy, Sullivan, Kiely, Scully. Subs: Grincell for Sullivan (70 mins); Kearney for McCarthy (86 mins).

Referee: R Winter(Wicklow).