HAVING been denied a chance to continue their fine form on the road last weekend, Galway United will hope there are no weather warnings to spoil their plans for their meeting with fellow promoted side Waterford FC at the RSC this Friday (7.45pm).

United have struggled at home this season with just one win from five league games at Eamonn Deacy Park, but that victory came against Waterford when second-half goals from Vince Borden and David Hurley saw United come from 1-0 down to claim all three points with a 2-1 win.

John Caulfield’s side also took 10 points from a possible 12 in the four First Division meetings between the sides last season to assume total dominance in the race for the title, but they go into this Friday’s game a point behind Keith Long’s side, albeit having played a game less, and the United manager is rightly wary of what will be a tough test.

“I am expecting it to be a very tight game. We had the better of things last season but they were tight games. We know we have beaten them already but they had a very good win against Bohs last weekend, it will be a test,” he said.

While United have made a decent fist of life back in the top-flight, it could be so much better only for some pretty appalling finishing – they have scored just five goals in eight games – and the Caulfield is acutely aware of the need to improve on that front.

“Wass [Aouachria] had missed every game before coming on as a sub the last time against Bohs, and Walshy [Stephen Walsh] was suspended for three games, but we did win two of those games without him.

“We are just not testing the keeper enough, but we have been working hard on it, working on creating chances. We approach every game the same, and that is to go and win it, scoring has been an issue for us, when we have scored in games this season, we have won them.

“The big disappointment against Bohs was the fact we were so flat. In every other game, we were right in it up until the end, but that wasn’t the case against Bohs, We have spoken about it and have been working hard in training, and we are looking for a reaction in Waterford,” he said.

Pictured: Galway United’s influential Aodh Dervin whose game time has to to be managed due to a knee ligament issue.