ATHLONE picked up three valuable points in their struggle to survive in the Premier Division by beating Drogheda at United Park last night.

Played in bitter cold, this was a game that neither side could really afford to lose. But in the end it was the experience of Tommy Gaynor that won it.

Throughout Drogheda had the better scoring chances, but they just could not put them away. The only good scoring chance that fell to Athlone was bit home with some style by Gaynor.

The Athlone goalkeeper, Shane Curran, also played an important part in the victory. At the start of the second half he made a couple of fine saves one, in particular, from a header by Michael Harte, just before the only goal of the game.

The winner came in the 65th minute when Gaynor controlled a long, cross-field pass from Ray McLoughlin, turned and beat two Drogheda defenders before crashing the ball to the net from about 15 yards.

Athlone gained in confidence after the score and although Drogheda tried their best to get back into it, the visitors finished the stronger.

Athlone's task had not been made easier by the fact that defender Conor Frawley was carried off after 20 minutes. But Barry Murphy did a good job at the back while Warren Parkes did a lot of running up front to keep the Drogheda defence from settling.

In a featureless Division One clash at Waterford RSC last night, Waterford United scored their first win in eight games with a 2-0 defeat of Kilkenny City.

Waterford went ahead after just four minutes when James Carthy fastened onto a through pass from Joe Lawless and gave Kilkenny goalkeeper Ashley Stephenson no chance from close range. Kevin Kelly got the second in the 66th minute.