Waterford United maintained their challenge at the top end of the league table when they took all three points at the RSC against a Drogheda United side that battled hard throughout.

The visitors could well have shared the spoils in a game that ebbed and flowed and only really came to life in patches.

However, Waterford always enjoyed a slight edge and the victory means they have now beaten Drogheda twice this season.

Waterford opened the scoring on 36 minutes after Kevin O'Brien took a quick free from just inside his own half to send Gary O'Neill on his way.

O'Neill's powerful shot, on the run, from 30 yards left goalkeeper Gary Rogers rooted to the spot but the ball came back off the upright before being drilled into the net by Darryl Murphy who was first to get the rebounding ball.

The Blues went two up in the 67th minute when Willie Byrne rose to control a Kevin Waters free that evaded everybody else in a crowded goalmouth. Byrne cut inside Che Bunce and directed his shot into the net from close range.

Drogheda always looked like they were going to score and they finally breached the home defence in the 70th minute when Darren Beesley drove a rasping free kick into the bottom corner of the net from 25 yards.

Waterford were reduced to ten men for the final eight minutes when Wayne Fitzgerald was sent off after receiving his second yellow card.

WATERFORD UNITED: D Connor, B Mallon (T Hughes, 60 mins), J Frost, D Breen, W Byrne, K O'Brien (M Clifford, 81 mins), W Fitzgerald, K Waters, A Reilly, G O'Neill (V Sullivan, 75 mins), D Murphy. Subs not used: R Cosgrave, P Holden.

DROGHEDA UNITED: G Rogers, D O'Connor, G Cronin, A Lynch, C Bunce (C Quinn, 68 mins), Pat Scully, D Tierney (J Flanagan, 80 mins), D Beesley, A Myler (D O'Brien 61 mins), M Quinless, N Tarrant. Subs not used: S Gallagher, L Jones.

Referee: P McKeown (Dublin).