Derry City (2) - St Patrick's Athletic (2)

Derry City 2 - St Patrick's Athletic 2

Alex Bannon came off the bench and netted a brace to ensure Derry City battled back from two goals down to deservedly earn a point against St Patrick's Athletic.

The Saints raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Mason Melia and Chris Forrester, before the young defender on-loan from Burton Albion, netted a double.

Both teams had chances in the opening 15 minutes with Derry duo Michael Duffy and Dipo Akinyemi seeing good efforts kept out by Joseph Anang, while Brian Maher had to make a comfortable save to keep out Chris Forrester's 20 yard free-kick.

Just after the mid-way point of the half a superb pass by Sadou Diallo found Adam O'Reilly, but his shot on the turn from the right hand angle of the box was saved by a diving Anang.

St Pat's broke the deadlock in slick fashion on 40 minutes as Forrester's terrific through ball released Mason Melia, who still had a lot to do, but he got a half-a-yard away from Sam Todd just inside the box, before firing low into Maher's bottom right hand corner.

The home side made a change at the break with Alex Bannon coming on for Adam Frizzell and they should have levelled things early in the second half but Ronan Boyce fired wide after the ball fell perfectly to the unmarked right-back inside the St Pat's penalty box. Moments later a Michael Duffy's right wing corner found Brandon Fleming, but the defender's powerful diving header, which was goal-bound, was deflected by City team-mate Gavin Whyte.

Maher had to make a top drawer save soon after when Kian Leavy's initial shot was blocked initially by Mark Connolly and Melia's follow-up close range effort was superbly kept out by the City net-minder's right boot.

On 62 minutes Stephen Kenny's side doubled their lead this time Melia ran at the Derry back-line, before calmly setting up Forrester and the talented midfielder made no mistake, blasting high into the top left hand corner.

To their credit Derry pulled a goal back in superb fashion on 75 minutes as substitute Danny Mullen's clever back flick found fellow sub Bannon and he defender's curling 20 yard strike flew over Anang.

Incredibly Derry levelled things thanks to that man Bannon, this time the defender's close range strike on 85 minutes gave Anang, after another Duffy corner had created the chance.

© rte.ie

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Derry City 2 - St Patrick's Athletic 2

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