Once again Michael Duffy was Derry City's hero as they came from behind to deservedly see off Waterford in a six-goal thriller at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.
Trailing to Jorgan Voilas and Thomas Lonergan goals, Duffy netted a hat-trick and substitute Dipo Akinyemi also netted in a frantic final quarter.
The home side started on the front foot and went close on three minutes but Josh Thomas' clipped effort at the near post from Gavin Whyte's left-wing cross was straight at Waterford keeper Stephen McMullan.
McMullan made a top drawer save ten minutes later when he somehow turned over Carl Winchester's powerful strike, after the midfielder did well to find space inside the Waterford box.
On 19 minutes Derry conceded a terrible goal after a poor defensive mistake.
Conan Noonan's ball over the top saw Edward Beach race out of his goal despite Brandon Fleming chasing back, unfortunately for the City keeper the defender headed the ball back over the Welshman, before falling over himself and Jorgen Voilas gleefully fired into the empty net.
The goal gave the visitors a bounce and they went close minutes later as Thomas Lonergan found Padraig Amond, but his left-footed strike from the angle was saved at the second attempt by Beach.
Derry suffered an injury set-back on 39 minutes when Winchester had to be replaced by Adam O'Reilly, after the midfielder seemed to pick up a knee problem.
Just before the break Whyte went close, but his well hit drive from 20 yards was superbly parried away by a diving McMullan.
Waterford were rightfully awarded a penalty on 51 minutes as O'Reilly fouled Lonergan inside the box, referee Paul Norton pointed to the spot and the striker dusted himself down and blasted home the resulting spot-kick, in off the left hand post.
City pulled a goal back just before the hour mark when Whyte's right wing cross found an unmarked Duffy at the back post and the winger headed home past McMullan.
Minutes later McMullan made another big save, this time at full stretch he turned over Duffy's dipping curling strike, after the winger cut in from the left before unleashing on his right.
The Brandywell men equalised on 75 minutes as substitute Henry Rylah broke clear down the right before seeing his deep cross find Duffy, who chested the ball down before blasting home on the volley with his left-foot.
The woodwork came to Derry's rescue soon after as Amond's flick-on released substitute Conor Carty and with the winger's shot from the left hand side of the six yard box, which had Beach beaten, rattled the post.
Derry won the points in stoppage time as Duffy's free-kick found Akinyemi and his powerful header from close range clipped the underside of the bar on its way into the net.
Duffy completed his hat-trick from the spot when slotted the ball home from 12 yards after referee Paul Norton pointed to spot after John Mahon handled O'Reilly's shot.
Derry City: Edward Beach, Barry Cotter (Alex Bannon 71), Jamie Stott, Patrick McClean, Brandon Fleming; Carl Winchester (Adam O'Reilly 39), James McClean (James Olayinka 71); Gavin Whyte (Henry Rylah 71), James Clarke (Dipo Akinyemi 54), Michael Duffy; Josh Thomas.
Waterford: Stephen McMullan, Bernardo Couto, John Mahon, Hayden Cann, Cian Barrett, Conan Noonan, Trae Coyle (Conor Carty 76), Luke Heeney, Hayden Cann, Tommy Lonergan (Jordan Mackenzie Faria 79), Jorgen Voilas (Dean McMenamy 66), Padraig Amond.
Referee: Paul Norton.
