Waterford FC 1 Derry City 2

Waterford FC’s hopes of avoiding a SSE Airtricity League relegation playoff were dealt a severe blow as they allowed Derry City to come from behind to take all three points at the RSC.

Matt Lawlor kept faith with the side that secured a win against Drogheda United a fortnight previous and he was rewarded for his decision as Tommy Lonergan deservedly put the Blues ahead on 22 minutes when he raced onto a ball into the area and fired past Brian Maher from a tight angle.

However, the visitors were level 12 minutes later when Adam O Reilly sent Michael Duffy away down the right. He slipped past Ronan Mansfield inside the area before slipping the ball into the path of the inrushing Gavin Whyte who turned the ball home.

Whyte turned provider for Duffy seven minutes later as he pounced on a weak pass from Kacper Radkowski to send Duffy away and he fired the ball low to the net to put Derry City ahead.

Derry managed the game superbly to deny a way back for Waterford with Brian Maher pulling off a number of great saves, notably in injury time to deny Conan Noonan and coupled with other results, the Blues now drop back into that relegation play off position.

Waterford FC: S McMullan, R Burke, G Horton, J Olayinka (S Glenfield 67′), P Amond, K Whyte, K Radkowski (T Coyle 75′), T Lonergan, C Noonan, R Mansfield, D McMenamy (M Smith 81′)

Derry City: B Maher, R Boyce, M Connolly, M Duffy, A O Reilly, G Whyte (A Frizzell 71′), R Benson, H Cann, B Fleming(S Todd 71′), C Winchester (C Dummigan 55′), J Stott

Referee: R Hennessy