Owen Elding hit the winner three minutes from time as Sligo Rovers came from one goal down to beat Waterford at the RSC. 

Conan Noonan had handed the hosts the lead eight minutes before the break, but an equaliser from Jad Hakiki followed by Elding’s late winner gave Rovers a deserved win as the Bit O’Red cut the gap to Galway in eighth to just one point. 

Boss John Russell made two changes from the FAI Cup win over Bohs a week before. Edwin Agbaje made his first start for Sligo, while James McManus returned having missed that cup win in Dublin. 

Rovers didn’t enjoy the best of first halves although Elding did strike the top of the crossbar with a well-met header from a Will Fitzgerald cross on 4 minutes.

Muhammadu Faal had an early chance before Noonan opened the scoring with a well taken finish following a ball over the top from Sam Glenfield on 37 minutes. 

The visitors did have two chances in the same move before the break.

Paddy McClean saw an effort scrambled away by Waterford goalkeeper Stephen McMullan, while Hakiki had a follow up swept off the goal-line.

Rovers were a totally different proposition in the second period, with Sam Sargeant in goal almost an on-looker for the majority. 

Patient build up play the key as Hakiki, Elding and Fitzgerald were all involved for Rovers’ leveller on 73.

Fitzgerald’s attempt from the edge of the box took a deflection off a Blues defender, Hakiki reacting the quickest to strike past McMullan for his fifth of the season, courtesy of a deflection off former Sligo striker Padraig Amond. 

Rovers continued to press and were rewarded three minutes from time when sub Ciaron Harkin weighed up his options before delivering a sumptuous through ball for Elding. The Riverstown man timed his run perfectly before keeping his cool and slotting his shot beyond McMullan. 

There was to be one last act as McClean got in front of a Kacper Radkowski goalward header in the 95th minute. 

Waterford: McMullan; Horton, Boyle, Mansfield, Burke; Rossiter, Olayinka (McMenamy 77), Glenfield (McDonald 72); Faal (Lonergan 72), Amond (Radkowski 85), Noonan

Sligo Rovers: Sargeant; Agbaje (Harkin 78), Quirk, Denham, McClean, Stewart; Fitzgerald, Hakiki (Manning 90), McManus, O’Kane (Waweru 68); Elding

Referee: Aaron O’Dowd

David Goulden