St Patrick's Athletic (1) - Derry City (0)

St Patrick's Athletic 1 - Derry City 0

In front of another bumper crowd at the 'Stadium of Light' the Supersaints put the pressure back on Cork City as they beat Derry City 1-0.

Cork who are at home against Bray Wanderers, are level on points with the Supersaints but ahead on goal difference, will be looking to restore the three point lead this Sunday.

Without the injured Packie Lynch, who was replaced by Willie Burke in the three-man central defence, who had Colin Hawkins back from injury, the Supersaints were unchanged from the team who had comfortably beaten Bray the previous week.

Derry who were unbeaten coming into this game under new manager Kevin Mahon played a tough game which unsettled St Patrick's and the Supersaints could never settle into their passing game.

However it was St Patrick's who had the best chances of the half and maybe went in feeling unlucky at half-time.

After only 9 minutes a shot come cross from Trevor Croly was fumbled by Davy Platt who was at sixes and sevens as the ball went through his hands and his legs and just managed to roll wide of the post to the crowd's bewilderment and amusement.

St Patrick's came close to a goal after 22 minutes. Trevor Molloy who chased a long ball over the top by Eddie Gormley was faced one-on-one with Platt only to be intercepted by Hutton whose critical clearance went just narrowly wide.

From the resulting Gormley corner, Hawkins will feel disappointed as his header went just over, after poor Derry marking.

Gilzean nearly added to his increasing tally of goals as he connected sweetly to Gormley's free on 35 minutes only to see Platt make a fine save to deny him.

What happened in the following 5 minutes will surely anger Liam Buckley as he watched as Gormley was booked for mouthing at the referee, Croly was booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle had been blown, and McGuinness booked for a tackle from behind on Derry's McCann.

However Derry did have their chances in the first half with Wood at full stretch to see McHugh's shot go wide after he turned inside McGuinness to create the chance. And after 28 minutes Burke had to clear a looping McHugh header off the line and immediately afterwards Osam had to block Beckett's goal bound shot.

At half-time McCallion replaced Beckett who was suffering from head concussion.

The second-half burst into life as St Patrick's stepped up their game and took advantage of Derry's mistakes in the defence.

Almost immediately after the break Molloy was unlucky not to score when his shot was blocked by Platt who had just spilled a Gormley long-range shot into Molloy's path.

After 60 minutes a training ground free by Gormley had Platt scrambling low to his left to keep out the stinging shot.

From the resulting corner Hawkins will again feel disappointed as his header failed to test Platt.

After 69 minutes the referee played advantage as McGuinness fowled Hargan the move then came to nothing.

The referee then reached into his pocket and produced the yellow card, McGuinness' second, and consequently the red card was shown.

Another disappointment for St Patrick's as they have another player sent off in the space of 4 matches.

With the advantage seemingly in Derry's favour St Patrick's sprung to life as a Russell free on 72 minutes was superbly finished by the head of Ian Gilzean as Richmond Park erupted with delight.

The crowd were at the edge of their seats for the final 15 minutes as Derry pressed forward looking for an equaliser only to be denied by some fabulous stops from Trevor Wood to keep out efforts from McHugh and Hegarty.

© irishtimes.com

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St Patrick's Athletic 1 - Derry City 0

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