Derry City 2 Bluebell United 1
Declan Devine’s side finally managed a home victory to break a wretched cycle of results at the Brandywell and advanced to the next round of the FAI Ford Cup. However on the evidence of this evening’s performance there is still much work for the Candystripes to do if they are to get back into the League title race or to advance further in this competition.
Ian Baraclough was an interested spectator in the stand for proceedings but he is unlikely to be unduly concerned by what he saw from the home side who stuttered their way to a home victory over 180 minutes against the junior side. Indeed whilst they may have been victorious on the night, the Derry management team kept the squad in the dressing room for a long period after the final whistle to discuss the performance on the night.
Once again City were forced into a number of changes, with Molloy and Jarvis partnered in the heart of the back four whilst McEleney was returned to the starting eleven, Mark Griffin also forcing a rare start for the Candystripes. The visitors did not pose the same attacking threat as the first encounter but were resolute in their marking and tracking throughout the game. As with Friday, the early goal which many Derry fans were hoping for didn’t materialise, though they did have their chances. Patterson was sent clear and somehow failed to hit the target, seeing his shot roll wide of the post. The same player tamely headed straight at McNulty moments later. Mark Griffin had a number of sloppy passes early on, but showed the threat he can pose with a brilliant swivel and shot which McNulty brilliant palmed away.
The home side finally made the break through nine minutes before the break. A nice passing move featuring a number of players eventually saw McNamee feed Patterson on the edge of the box and the big striker lashed it home from the edge of the box to make it one nil. City were at their best just after the goal, as there seemed to be renewed vigour and confidence amongst the players. Players seemed keen to get on the ball and they did cut through the Bluebell defence on a couple of occasions. However they were unable to add to their tally before the break and the sides entered with only a goal behind them.
The referee Rob Rodgers were forced to be withdrawn at half time and he was replaced by the fourth official, Rob Harvey. The home side, keen to push on, were unable to break down a Bluebell side, who despite falling behind, were still hanging on in the game. McNamee, Griffin and Patterson all had chances for the home side to make it two but a combination of poor finishing and luck meant that it remained two nil. As with Friday, the visitors were manfully staying with their more illustrious counterparts and City were unable to shake them off. Stritch and Griffiths continued to toil up front for Bluebell, though Doherty was rarely troubled. On a rare foray forward Sherlock headed wide from a good position from a free when he really should have hit the target. Indeed a defensive mix up from Higgins and Doherty nearly gifted Bluebell a chance but City scrambled it clear.
With less than ten minutes left on the clock, City looked to have assured their progress when McNamee rolled home. Patterson appeared to be fouled in the box, Harvey didn’t give the penalty and in their attempt to clear, the ball fell to McNamee who merely passed it into an empty net. There was late drama as Bluebell threw Sherlock forward as another striker and he capitalised on a bad mistake by Jarvis to slot home and give a grandstand finish.
No comments:
Post a Comment