Derry City win first away game of the season in Waterford

Waterford 0

Derry City 2

Derry City won their first away game of the season thanks to goals from Will Patching and Pat Hoban in Waterford. 

It has been the perfect response to last week's defeat to Shamrock Rovers, with six points from a possible six against St. Patrick's Athletic and tonight's opponents. 

City had a real chance to take the lead on 20 minutes when Pat Hoban’s cross into the area picked out Paul McMullan, who flicked it back into the path of the in-form Danny Mullen, but the striker miscued, side-footing his volley well off target.

Another chance soon followed, and this time it was McMullan putting in the cross which was headed by Hoban out to Will Patching 20 yards from goal, but the City talisman curled the ball just over the bar.

The visitors lost Ben Doherty to injury 10 minutes before half time, but his replacement Daniel Kelly had an immediate impact as Derry City took the lead. The Candystripes caught Waterford out with a swift counter attack with Hoban aiming the ball towards Kelly, who shaped to put the ball into the net until he was bundled over from behind by Robbie McCourt. Referee Alan Patchell pointed to the penalty spot and Patching stepped up to score his third goal of the season.

It was so nearly 2-0 within minutes when City won a free kick 30 yards from goal and Patching’s delivery was headed into the net by Hoban, but he was denied his ninth goal of the season by an offside flag.

Daniel Kelly should have doubled City’s lead early in the second half, but he could only direct his close-range header at Sam Sargeant when it seemed easier to score.

As the half went on with no sign of Derry adding to their lead, Waterford grew in confidence, and they had a chance to equalise when McCormack’s corner was headed outside the area to Rowan McDonald, but he shot wildly over.

The second goal eventually arrived on 74 minutes when Kelly did brilliantly to break onto the area, and beat two mean before his shot was parried by Sargeant, but only into the path of Hoban, who smashed the rebound into the roof of the net for his ninth goal of the season.

Waterford should have pulled a goal back as the game entered the final 10 minutes when the ball broke to Padraig Amond at the back post, but his shot crashed back off the underside of the crossbar when it seemed certain he would score.

Teams

WATERFORD: Sargeant, Power, Horton, McDonald, McCormack (Pattison 75’), Amond, Parsons, Asamoah (Evans 63’), Leahy, McCourt (Radkowvski 6’), MacAdam (McMenamy 88’).

DERRY CITY: Maher, Boyce, Coll, Connolly, McJannet, Doherty (Kelly 35’), Patching, McMullan (Harkin 90’), O’Reilly, Mullen (Duffy 75’), Hoban.

REFEREE: Alan Patchell