Derry City climbed to within two points of Bohemians in third spot with a 3-0 victory over Sligo Rovers at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on Friday night.
strong>Derry City 3-0 Sligo Rovers
Report by Shaun Keenan at the Ryan McBride Brandywel Stadium
Photos: JPPhotgraphy
There was a 45-minute delay in the fixture following a floodlight failure.
Goals from Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe, Jamie McDonagh and Jack Malone gave City an emphatic victory on Foyleside.
There was a minute’s applause for Derry City legend Matt Doherty before the game after his sad passing during the week.
Doherty made his debut for the Candystripes in 1958 before moving to Glentoran in 1961 where he earned ‘B’ International status in Northern Ireland’s midfield.
The Candystripes started at a ferocious pace and rarely relented during the first 15 minutes, carving Rovers up at their own peril.
Getting the better of the full-back after three minutes, the loanee winger put it on a plate for David Parkhouse but his effort went over the crossbar from close range.
Parkhouse had another clear-cut effort on goal 10 minutes later as Jamie McDonagh’s inswinging cross was met by the City forward, creating huge problems for the Sligo backline, but Edward McGinty palmed the effort to safety.
The deadlock was eventually broken after 21 minutes when Junior, who initially created a superb bit of link-up play with David Parkhouse, skipped past three Sligo players before slotting it in off the far post.
After the interval, scampering on the counter-attack, Derry were granted breathing room as Jamie McDonagh, a bright-light for City this season, scored Derry’s second goal with a thundering effort of a loose ball inside the penalty area.
From there, Devine’s energetic outfit maintained control for large spells in the final half an hour, taking it down a gear at their own leisure against a fairly ineffective Sligo Rovers side.
However, enthusiasm wasn’t lost in the final goal, the goal of the night, which belonged to youth academy player Jack Malone.
The young striker, who dashed towards the management staff following the sublime strike, made space for himself before letting one go from 25-yards in what was a cracking effort from the youngster.
Rovers night was summed up after 82 minutes when Ronan Coughlan missed an empty net from five yards out.
It was a well-deserved victory for City that keeps the pressure firmly on Bohs entering the final draft of fixtures.
