Every game is vital for Waterford United at this stage and, given the other results, this point could prove priceless in their battle to climb out of the relegation and play-off zone.
The game started 30 minutes late as a consequence of a row over jerseys. Referee Anthony Buttimer considered that Bohemians’ away strip could cause confusion with Waterford’s colours and instructed them to change.
There followed a stand-off during which Bohemians refused to change and Mr Buttimer threatened to call off the game.
The Waterford staff secured a set of jerseys for Bohs from the local Junior League side, The Villa, but the visitors refused to wear them, apparently because The Villa's strip was identical to the green and white hoops worn by Shamrock Rovers.
In the end, a last-ditch compromise was reached and Bohemians eventually took to the field wearing United-s away strip.
In a lively opening period, both teams could have scored in the first five minutes.
United's Paul McCarthy broke clear on goal after intercepting a back header from Kevin Hunt but Jason McGuinness got in a last-gasp tackle that deflected the ball out for a corner.
Minutes later, Hunt played an excellent through ball for Ryan McCann who found himself with a clear shot on goal from ten yards, but his rushed effort was weak and Packie Holden gathered easily.
On 33 minutes, Glen Crowe shot wide from six yards after Chris Turner touched on an Owen Heery throw-in and, five minutes before half-time, Dessie Byrne unleashed a pile-driver from 30 yards that Holden could only parry but managed to smother on the goal-line at the second attempt.
United enjoyed a period of domination midway through the second half when they really had the visitors on the rack but the closest they came to a goal came on 62 minutes when McCarthy drilled a low, hard ball into the area from the right wing and Vinnie Sullivan saw his powerful drive shave the outside of the far upright.
Waterford United: Holden, Flynn, Hedderman, Brosnan, Breen, Mulcahy, Scully, McCarthy, Sullivan, Warren, Bermingham. Substitutes not used: Harte, Browne, Kearney, Kiely, Lordan.
Bohemians: Blaney, Heery, Byrne (Singh, 82minutes), Hunt, Burns, Fenn (Turner, 13 minutes), Crowe, McGuinness, Richardson, McCann, O’Donnell (Kelly, 65 minutes). Substitutes not used: Kingsbury, Matthews.
Referee: Anthony Buttimer, Cork.
