Will Patching runs to celebrate with the Derry bench after scoring the last minute winner
Ruaidhrí Higgins’ men had to work hard for the victory over St Pat’s Athletic, which Patching won right at the death, firing home from long range, after his initial first half goal was cancelled out by Tom Grivosti.
His side took the lead at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on four minutes in superb fashion as Patching, created himself some space some 25 yards from goal and his curling effort from the left fizzed into the net past Saints goalkeeper Joseph Anang.
The Dublin club went close to levelling things moments later but City keeper Brian Maher did well to parry away Billy King’s powerful 12 yard effort.
In the fifth minute of the game and under the stand bearing his name in the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, Derry City fans pay tribute to their captain and number five on the weekend of his fifth anniversary of his passing.
Minutes later Anang had to make a big save when he did well to keep out Ronan Boyce’s left footed strike.
St Pat’s missed a golden chance to equalise on 32 minutes as Mark Doyle’s right wing cross found King, but with the goal at his mercy, he headed over from close range.
The woodwork came to St Pat’s rescue just before the break as City front man Jamie McGonigle, who signed a contract extension earlier in the week, saw his close range shot from a tight angle come back off the post.
The visitors equalised right at the start of the second half as big defender Grivosti scored a stunner, as his 20 yard clipped effort, sailed in off Maher’s right hand post.
The Saints went close to taking the lead on 60 minutes, but Chris Forrester’s long range left footed strike, which had Maher beaten, flew just over the crossbar.
On 65 minutes, a teasing right wing cross by City substitute Brandon Kavanagh was inches away from James Aktinude and also nearly caught out Anang, as the ball skipped just past his right hand post.
Minutes later the home side should have retaken the lead as a clever pass by Kavanagh released Daniel Lafferty, but from an astute angle the left-back’s effort was kept out by Anang.
Right at the death, Patching secured the points as his long range strike gave Anang no chance and fizzed into the net, to spark wild celebrations on the terraces.
Derry City: Brian Maher, Shane McEleney, Eoin Toal, Cameron McJannet, Ronan Boyce, Cameron Dummigan, Joe Thomson (Brandon Kavanagh 57), Will Patching, Daniel Lafferty; James Akintunde (Evan McLaughlin 72), Jamie McGonigle.
St Patrick Athletic: Joseph Anang, Jack Scott, Joe Redmond, Tom Grivosti, Chris Forrester, Eoin Doyle, Mark Doyle (Ronan Coughlan 88), Billy King (Tunde Owolabi 78), Adam O’Reilly, Darragh Burns (James Abankwah 82), Anto Breslin.
Referee: Mr Damien MacGraith (Dublin).
Next up for Derry is an away trip to sixth placed Bohemians on Friday, April 1 (kick off 7.45 pm).
Tags: