Waterford United 1 Cork City 4Waterford United had an opportunity to leapfrog Cork City in the league table before a large home attendance last night, but it was the visitors who proved the more lethal outfit and they were rewarded with their first victory at the RSC in five years.

The tone of United's night was set in the 18th minute when City were gifted the lead. The Blues were under no pressure but a disastrous mix-up saw a back-pass by Alan Carey roll into the corner of the net to the right of goalkeeper Dan Connor.

United worked hard to get back on terms and the equaliser arrived three minutes before the break. A free by Kenny Coleman from the right found John Frost on the opposite wing and he cleverly lobbed the ball over the defence to Willie Bruton, who gave Michael Devine no chance from close range.

But City had the ball in the net again a few minutes after the break when a corner from the right by man-of-the-match Liam Kearney was headed down by George O'Callaghan and Kevin Doyle steered the ball home.

The visitors scored again on 61 minutes when referee Dave McKeon played the advantage rule to allow the fouled Kearney deliver the ball to O'Callaghan who crossed perfectly for Alan Bennett to score from 12 yards.

And City really rubbed the salt into United's wounds on 78 minutes when Doyle's shot from a Billy Woods cross was parried by Connor and John O'Flynn pounced to crash the ball home.

In injury-time, United's player-manager Alan Reynolds was sent off, which renders him ineligible for Monday night's home game against Bohemians.

WATERFORD UNITED: Connor; Coleman, Frost (Waters, 81 mins), Reynolds, Breen, Whelehan, Carey (Sullivan, 67), Mulcahy, Murphy, Bruton, Clifford (Quitongo, 67). Subs not used: Fitzgerald, Holden.

CORK CITY: Devine; Bennett, O'Halloran, Murray, O'Flynn (Behan, 88 mins), O'Callaghan, Woods, Doyle, Gamble, Horgan, Kearney. Subs not used: Murphy, Fenn, Lopez, O'Flynn.

Referee: Dave McKeon (Dublin).