Goals in each half from John Martin and Eric Molloy helped Waterford claim a vital 2-1 win over Longford Town in the battle to avoid relegation.
Martin’s goal came in the 17th minute but that was cancelled out one minute later by Aaron McNally.
The winning goal came in the 48th minute through Molloy. Town finished the game with 10 men after defender Mick McDonnell was shown a straight red.
After settling into the game better it was the visitors who broke the deadlock in the 17th minute. A right wing Eric Molloy cross saw town keeper Lee Steacy made a save but couldn’t keep John Martin’s powerful header out.
Town were back on level terms one minute later when a poor pass from Darragh Power was picked up by Aaron McNally, he brushed past Waterford players before shooting low to the bottom left hand corner of the net.
McNally nearly made 2-1 a minute later, after picking up a pass from Dylan Grimes he hit the ball from 30-yards out but it just went over.
Five minutes before the break Molloy’s cross met the head of Kyle Ferguson but he directed the ball straight at Steacy.
Three minutes after the break and Waterford were back in front. Aaron McNally was harshly penalised for a handball. Jamie Mascoll hit in the free which eluded every Town player but the ball fell nicely to Molloy who made no mistake.
Town tried to get back into the game but Waterford keeper Murphy was rarely troubled.
The hosts were reduced to 10 men in the 84th minute when defender Mick McDonnell was sent off for kicking out at Adam O’Reilly.
Waterford were happy to sit back while Town offered little in the final minutes.
Longford Town: Steacy, Chambers, McDonnell, McDriscoll, Kirk, McNally, Dervin, Zambra (Dobbs 73), Byrne (Davis 54), Grimes, R Manley (McCabe 81)
Waterford: Murphy, Power, Ferguson, Stafford, Mascoll, Martin, O’Keeffe, Griffin, O’Reilly (Stringer 90+3), Molloy, Mutswunguma (Kavanagh 89)
Referee: R Matthews (Mayo)
