Derry City 2 Waterford FC 4

A performance for the ages saw Waterford FC claim all three points against Derry City in a cracking game at the Brandywell as goals from in demand striker Tommy Lonergan as well as Padraig Amond and Jorgen Voilas ensured a deserved victory over the Candystripes.

Graham Coughlan continued to tinker with his midfield lineup with two changes as Conan Noonan and Sam Glenfield started in place of Luke Heeney and Dean McMenamy while Derry City’s exodus coupled with an injury crisis saw then line out with just eleven fit first team players as Brian Maher returned between the posts following a lengthy layoff with a wrist injury in th eonly change to the side that started in their win over Drogheda United last week.

A positive start from the visitors saw them gain the upper hand and when Will Johnson flicked a ball towards the six yard box on forteen minutes it was handled by Conor Barr and referee Declan Toland pointed to the spot. Up stepped Lonergan to balst the ball to the roof of the net for a deserved lead.

Derry responded with some good attacking play with Adam O Reilly firing a long range effort off the crossbar on twenty four minutes but the visitors should have doubled their lead a minute later when Derry twice cleared the ball off the line following a Benny Couto corner.

Stephen McMullan was dominant in his area and he made a crucial block to deny O Reilly on thirty one minutes who broke through into the area.

Waterford doubled their lead on seventy minutes when Lonergan scored his second of the night with a little help from Rob Slevin and Amond added a third seven minutes later as he turned a low cross from Hayden Cann.

To their credit, Derry fought back and two goals in as many minutes from Slevin and O Reilly gave the home side hope but when Jorgan Voilas broke through and rounded Brian Maher to slot the ball into the empty net for Waterford’s fourth in injury time, the points were secured and Waterford were off the bottom for the first time since February.

Derry City: Maher, Cotter, Barr, P McClean, Fleming, Olayinja, O Reilly, Dummigan, J McClean (Slevin 56′), Boyce (Doherty 78′), Duffy

Waterford FC: McMullan, Couto, Long, Mahon, Cann, Houston (Voilas 87′), Noonan (Coyle 87′), Johnson (Mcmenamy 74′), Glenfield (Heeney 78′), Amond, Lonergan

Referee: Declan Toland