Henry Rylah spares Derry City blushes in Waterford with 95th minute equaliser

SUBSTITUTE Henry Rylah's 95th minute header rescued a point for Derry City at the RSC, denying the bottom-of-the-table team their first win of the season.

The pressure continues to mount on City boss Tiernan Lynch as the Brandywell club has won only twice in the last 13 fixtures as are currently closer to the bottom than the top after 17 played!

It's now three points from a possible 12 after their last four matches and Lynch's troops can count themselves fortunate not to lose this one as Charlton loanee Rylah scored with the last touch of the match to avoid an embarrassing loss.

The result drops Derry one place to sixth in the table and they're now just four points ahead of second-from-bottom Sligo Rovers.

Kevin dos Santos gave Derry a 19th minute lead with his second goal in three games having scored a last gasp equaliser against Galway United at Celtic Park two weeks ago.

Tommy Longeran converted a second half penalty before Kevin Long's header put the home side ahead.

With defeat staring Derry in the face, Rylad came off the bench to head home from close range to spare the visitors' blushes.

Derry started well and could've taken the lead inside the opening five minutes as Michael Duffy's free-kick from deep was met by Jamie Stott inside the six yard box but he fired over the bar.

Adam O'Reilly gifted Lonergan a gilt-edged chance with an under-hit backpass that saw the Waterford man clean through on goal but Eddie Beach raced off his line to save with his feet.

When Brandon Fleming's quick free-kick set James Clarke away down the left, the Meath man picked out Dos Santos inside the area who tucked away his shot from close range.

Beach was the busier of the two keepers and needed to produce a smart save to deny Padraig Amond who out-muscled Stott before shooting straight at the Kilmarnock loanee on the stroke of half-time.

Former Waterford midfielder James Olayinka conceded a penalty for a foul on John Mahon at the start of the second half and Lonergan stepped up to pull the home side level.

Waterford was dominating, and Will Johnson's long throw was headed on by Mahon but somehow Barry Cotter produced a goalline clearance.

The home fans didn't have long to wait for another chance and this time Benny Couto's cross from the left was powered to the roof of the net by Kevin Long to give Waterford an unlikely lead.

The knives were out for underpressure Lynch with Derry so close to back-to-back defeats until Rylah popped up with that last ditch header.

Derry faces a double header at Celtic Park against St Pat's and Shelbourne next—worrying times for the Foylesiders who are closer to the bottom than the top after 17 league matches.

Waterford: McMullan, Houston (McMenamy 25), Cann, Long, Mahon, Couto, Heeney, Johnson, Noonan (Voilas 86), Lonergan (Barrett 91), Amond.

Derry City: Beach, Cotter, Stott, Barr, Fleming, O'Reilly, Olayinka, Clarke (Rylah 83), Duffy (Markey 83), Dos Santos (Dummigan 71), Akinyemi (Thomas 61).

Referee – Daryl Carolan.