Waterford took a huge step in their quest to win promotion back to the Permier Division with a superb 4 -1 win over Treaty United at the Market's Field in Limerick.
It took just five minutes for Waterford to get the breakthrough when Yass En-Neyah slipped a wonderful ball into the path of Phoenix Patterson and he fired the ball underneath Jack Brady.
Patterson made it 2-0 just before the half hour mark, in a carbon-copy goal to his first, but this time it was Junior who supplied the pass.
The Blues had the luxury of missing a penalty five minutes before the break when Junior was brought down by Ben O Riordan but the midfielder fired his shot against the upright.
The home side received a lifeline with a penalty of their own on 61 minutes after Richard Taylor fouled Lee Devitt and Enda Curran converted the spot kick.
Substitute Colin Conroy was red carded on 68 minutes for a second yellow card and Waterford added further misery two minutes later when Junior tapped home from close range.
And an own goal from Sean Guerins provided Waterford's fourth deep in injury time to give Waterford a huge advantage ahead of Saturday's second leg at the RSC.
In order to advance to the Premier Division for next year, Waterford now need to beat Treaty in the return leg this Saturday in the RSC.
They will also need to win the First Division play-off with either Galway United or Longford Town (who drew 2-2 in Wednesday night's other clash), and then win their game against the lowest-ranked Premier Division side.
