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The entire Bohs defence stood back thinking Rodney Jack was offside but Vinnie Sullivan kept going after latching on to Pat Purcell s long pass and stroked the ball into the net as goalkeeper Matt Gregg made no attempt to save.
Assistant referee Gary Howlett had his flag raised but referee Anthony Buttimer overruled his assistant and, to howls of protest from the Bohemians players and mentors, awarded the goal.
Such was the level of dissention in the immediate aftermath, Bohemians assistant manager Gary Howlett was shown a red-card by the referee and sent to the stand.
Two minutes before half-time, United increased their lead when Paul Crowley knocked the rebound to the net after Gregg did well to parry a rasping, low shot from Sullivan.
United concentrated on maintaining their lead in the second half but, on 75 minutes, Mark Keane went close to reducing the deficit when he blazed over the bar from close range after Aidan O Keeffe's initial effort was blocked down.
Waterford United: Holden, Breen, Hayes (Lester, 81 minutes), Mulcahy, Doherty, Purcell, Crowley, Grant (Andrews, 69 minutes), Jack, Sullivan, Heffernan.
Bohemians: Gregg, Rice, Hunt, Harking, Farrelly, Grant, Duggan, Keddy (Keane, 67 minutes), O Keeffe, Collins, Oman (Lee, 45 minutes).