Institute 0 Derry City 4 (Patterson, McBride, Curran, Barry)
Derry got their pre-season campaign up and running this evening with a comfortable victory on the night over near neighbours Institute. The Candystripes, rarely troubled, scored twice in either half and eased their way to the victory amongst challenging conditions.
City started with new faces Barry, Collins Jnr, Ventre, and Stewart in the start eleven but there was plenty of positional switches for the fans to discuss. McBride partnered Barry in the heart of the defence and Shane McEleney started in the middle of the park as had been widely rumoured in the run up to the game. There was no sign of Tim Clancy who was expected to play in the fixture but there were plenty of talking points for the City faithful to consider on a cold and wet night.
The game started with both sides feeling each other out, though Stewart was immediately lively up front for the visitors. Barry and McBride seemed to settle well in the defence for Derry and many fans will leave talking about the young Dubliner’s performance at centre half and left back over the course of the game. Whilst there were few early chances, conditions deteriorated early on in the contest, with the wind and the rain making it difficult for both sides to get the ball down and play. Institute saw their game at the weekend called off due to the state of the Riverside pitch and this did make it tricky for slick, accurate passing.
City hit the front from the penalty spot, Rory Patterson firing home after Barry was bundled over in the box from a corner. There were few complaints from the Stute players and last season’s top scorer drove it high into the left corner from the spot. Patrick McEleney started brightly and he nearly sent Stewart away, the new signing just failing to latch onto a through ball. It may be a night to forget for the Scot and is in the first game of the season he register a contender for miss on the season. Good work by Patterson saw him break down the right and cut the ball back to an unmarked Stewart at the back post. The front man, faced with an open goal, somehow managed to drive the ball wide from three yards out under no pressure.
City extended their advantage when McBride crashed home a header from a corner, rising above the home defence and leaving the keeper with no chance. There were signs that as the half drew to close, City were being to settle and find their rhythm. However, as is the case in friendly games, a raft of changes at half time disrupted the flow of the game. City emerged for the second period with Ciaran Gallagher, Barry Molloy, Thomas McMonagle, Enda Curran all entered the fray. In a new look defence, Gallagher was between the sticks with McBride and McMonagle joining up at centre half, with Barry switching to left back for the second period.
In the middle of park Molloy joined Ventre with Shane McEleney moving to the left wing, whilst Enda Curran led the line up front. The game became disjointed in the second period, though Derry were able to show their superior skill and were rarely troubled by Stute. The Watersiders did make a game of it and held City until midway through the second half before conceding the third. Ryan Curran, Michael Duffy and trialist Chris Tsonis were brought on the bench and Tsonis was bundled to the ground to give Derry their second spot kick of the night. Up stepped Curran and opened his Derry City account, sending the keeper the wrong way. Michael Duffy saw his powerful effort tipped round the post before good work from Enda Curran saw him beat two men before putting a low ball into the box. Ryan Curran appeared to misjudge the pace of the ball but Aaron Barry popped up at the back post to make it four nil on the night.
City get their campaign up and running and look forward to a trip to Solitude on Saturday to play Irish League champions Cliftonville. Kick off in that game is 3pm.
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