Rory Patterson: fired Derry in lead.
Derry City 3 Athlone Town 2
Derry City recorded their second win of the season with a hard fought 3-1 victory over Athlone Town in their SSE Premier Division clash at Brandywell tonight.
Derry, looking to bounce back from last Monday night’s defeat in Dundalk, did not got it all their own way against the league’s bottom club, having to come from behind to clinch their second successive home victory.
Indeed, Derry were forced to hold on near the end when, leading 3-1 and looking comfortable in the second half, they let the visitors back into the game with a second goal.
Athlone took a shock lead in the 15th minute when O’Brien took advantage of poor defending by Dean Jarvis to fire home.
Derry’s equaliser eight minutes later seemed somewhat fortunate when Enda Curran’s mistimed header from a Michael Duffy cross somehow trickled over the goal line.
Derry went ahead in the 30th minute when Patterson – the league’s top goalscorer last season – rounded keeper Sexton to thump home after being set up by a brilliant pass from Patrick McEleney.
The home side started the second half much the brighter of the two and deservedly increased their lead in the 60th minute when Michael Duffy bent the ball past Sexton after being set up by Enda Curran.
The visitors were thrown a lifeline in the 74th minute when Jason Marks found the top corner from a free kick given away by Shane McEleney, for which the defender was yellowed carded.
Boosted by the score, Athlone threw everything they had at the Candystripes but the Derry defence held out for the win.
Derry City: Doherty, S McEleney, Jarvis, Collins, Byrne, Ventre, McGovern (Stewart 69), P McEleney, Duffy, Patterson, E Curran. Substitutes: Gallager, Timlin, Foy, R Curran, Burke, Barry.
Athlone Town: Sexton, McMahon, S Byrne, A Byrne, Quigley, O’Brien (Clancy 60), Hughes, Dillon (Sweeney 64), Brennan (Marks 64), ,, Rusk. Substitutes (not used): Brennan, Skinner.
Referee: Robert Harvey.
ELSEWHERE
Premier Division
Bohemians 0 Limerick FC 1
Cork City 1 Sligo Rovers 1
Drogheda United 0 Bray Wanderers 2
St Patrick’s Athletic 1 Shamrock Rovers 0
UCD 1 Dundalk 4
First Division
Galway FC 0 Shelbourne 1
Finn Harps 1 Wexford Youths 1 (latest)
Tags: