Waterford FC 2 Derry City 1

Waterford FC ended their seven match losing streak in style with a committed and deserved 2-1 win over Derry City at the RSC.

Interim head coach Matt Lawlor made two changes to the side that lost in Cork with both enforced. Trae Coyle lasted just 17 minutes last week before a hamstring injury forced him out while Dean McMenamy faced a one match suspension for five yellow cards. Darragh Leahy returned to the line-up and Sam Glenfield for his second start of the year.

Derry City manager Tiarnan Lynch returned to the dugout after serving a suspension on Tuesday night and he named an unchanged line up for the third game in a row.

The first chance came to the visitors on 14 minutes as Ronan Boyce sent Dom Thomas away on the right. His pass into the area found Gavin Whyte in space but his shot was easily dealt with by Stephen McMullan.

Waterford’s first chance arrived four minutes later as a Grant Horton cross to the back post hung nicely for Ryan Burke but his powerful header was cleared off the line by Kevin Holt.

The Blue’s first goal arrived five minutes before the break as a Conan Noonan corner from the right was not cleared by the Derry defence and Darragh Leahy was there to poke the ball over the line.

Waterford doubled their lead on 65 minutes when a Noonan free kick was touched into the path of Podge Amond by Tommy Lonergan and he fired to the net albeit with the aid of a deflection.

McMullan was the Blues hero on 79 minutes when he palmed away a great shot from Sean Patton but could do nothing about the Derry goal which came 4 minutes into injury time when Liam Boyce headed home.

Waterford FC: S McMullan, G Horton, R Burke, A Boyle (K White 46′), J Olayinka, P Amond, D Leahy, K Radkowski, T Lonergan, S Glenfield (B McCormack 85′), C Noonan

Derry City: B Maher, R Boyce (S Ferguson 62′), M Connolly, M Duffy, G Whyte, R Benson (C Harkin 62′), D Thomas ( A O Reilly 46′), C Winchester(L Boyce 46′), D Mullen (S Paton 70′), K Holt, S Todd

Referee: P Norton