Derry City 4 Finn Harps 2
City continued their 100% record in pre-season with an easy win over an understrength Finn Harps side. The Candystripes took the lead inside the first minute and were 4-0 up at the break, before a raft of substitutions allowed Harps to pull a couple of goals back and bring some respectability to the score sheet. The City forwards will wonder about their wayward finishing in the second period, whilst Patton in the Harps goal must take some credit for keeping the scoreline down.
In this games, fans are as interested in who was playing as much as the final result. The starting eleven for Derry: Doherty, Collins Jnr, Byrne, McBride, Barry, P McEleney, Ventre, McNamee, Molloy, Stewart, Patterson. Whilst this reporter wouldn’t be an expert on the Harps line up, only a smattering of senior player such as McGowan and Forker were present for Harps. Ollie Horgan also didn’t have the same size of squad to call on, with the lack of substitutes hurting Harps near the end of the game when players were forced off through injury.
City hit the front after a minute when through ball found Stewart down the right. The Scot did well to leave his marker with a burst of pace and cut in field, driving low to give Harps little chance. This was to set the tone of the first half when City appeared a much superior outfit and cut Harps apart at will. Patrick McEleney, carrying on from the Cliftonville game was highly influential in the centre of the park.
Gerard Doherty was a complete spectator in the first half as the vast majority of the game was played inside the Harps half. Whilst the Derry midfield were well in control, long punts clear were ably dealt with by the likes of Byrne or McBride if the visitors did threaten to break clear. Aaron Barry and Roddy Collins Junior were given ample room to roam forward as the midfield bossed possess. City could have doubled their advantage when Stewart found Patterson unmarked at the back post. Despite being only a couple of yards out, the striker managed to turn it wide, though he was at full stretch. The frontman saw a long range effort just clip the outside of the post as City sought to assert their dominance.
More good work from Stewart led to the second, as his run and cross down the right was turned into the Harps goal by a defender, past a helpless Patton. A trip in the box gave Patterson a chance from the penalty spot, but his effort went the wrong side of the post as Harps held on with their finger tips. Patterson tried to get in on the act once again with a jinking run but his delicate lob clipped the bar and the rebound was cleared. However the striker was not to be denied for long, and soon added the third goal to the tally.
Barry McNamee got in on the act with a lovely move and pass to the right. He fed Roddy Collins Junior who whipped in a teasing cross that McNamee himself met and it went just wide of the post. Patrick McEleney continued his good form with the fourth and it was looking that this might become a rout for the home side.
The gap between the Premier Division and First Division was clear to see, though it must be remember that this was far from Ollie Horgan’s first choice eleven. The new Harps boss cut an excitable figure on the sideline, in a game that was played in difficult conditions for both sides. The former incumbent of Finn Park, Peter Hutton, looked a much more content figure as he saw his side continue to dominate proceedings.
City introduced a raft of changes in the second period and the wind and driving rain appeared. The eleven which took the field for the second period; Gallagher, Bonner, Byrne, McBride, McMonagle, Burke, S McEleney, Patrick McEleney, Foy, Curran, Duffy. The second half was not so easy for City but Collins will want to have words with his front men as they spurned a number of chances in the second period. Harps also made a number of changes and with both sides disrupted, the game certainly lacked the flow of the opening period. Harps were certainly more competitive in the period but always looked under pressure when City got their act together going forward, with Patton making a number of very good saves.
A mix up in the City defence allowed Harps to pounce for their first goal, with Byrne and McBride both failing to clear their lines on a number of occasions. City continued to roam forward at will, with Tony McNamee replacing Patrick McEleney. Duffy looked very lively up top and his running at the Harps defence caused all sorts of problems. Shane McEleney started out wide, but dropping into the centre he found the groove and sent McMonagle and McNamee away on a number of occasions. Ryan Curran had the best chance for Derry to break the deadlock but hesitated and allowed Patton to block when one on one with the keeper. The Harps netminder did well to stop McNamee and Duffy with other efforts. Harps again managed to beat Ciaran Gallagher, which caused some frustration on the Derry bench, but if City had been as clinical in the second half as they were in the first, City could easily double their tally of goals.
The game saw the likes of Burke, Tony McNamee, Bonner and Foy get game time for the first time in pre-season and thus served as a useful outing for the boss. However it was squad players such as Duffy and McMonagle who caught the eye during the second period and they may see more action on Wednesday when City are scheduled to play a D&D select side. However credit to Ollie Horgan and Finn Harps for facilitating the game at short notice.
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