IT WAS A case of lucky 13 for Derry City at Brandywell as they ended a dismal 12 match winless run with an impressive victory over Longford Town.
A superb brace of goals from man of the match Mark Timlin and a Rhys Gorman own goal ensured the Candystripes recorded their first league win since April 20th.
It was a hugely impressive performance from Hutton’s men and the inclusion of debutante Conor McCormack – City’s new signing from St Patrick’s Athletic – no doubt gave them a much needed lift.
File photo Lorcan Doherty
Lorcan Doherty
Derry made a bright and dominant opening to the game and should really have taken the lead after just two minutes.
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Stephen Dooley raced down the right wing and cut the ball back into the path of McNamee but the Ramelton man’s first time strike from 12 yards was hit straight at goalkeeper Paul Hunt who stood tall.
The home lot didn’t have to wait long for another opportunity as seven minutes later Gorman’s own goal gave Derry their first goal at Brandywell since 22 May.
Rob Cornwall’s low cross from the right was flicked on by McEleney and the ball came off the unfortunate Gorman and into the top corner.
There was no let up from the Candystripes and skipper Ryan McBride was gifted a free header at the back post from McEleney’s corner, but he sent his effort over the bar on 19 minutes.
Derry were piling on the pressure and doubled their advantage one minute later when Timlin played a neat one-two with McEleney and his powerful 25 yard strike took a slight deflection off Mark Salmon before nestling into the Longford net.
Longford did have a chance to get back in the game on 34 minutes when Pat Sullivan’s freekick found Kaleem Simon lurking at the far post but his tame header was gathered easily by Ger Doherty.
Four minutes before the break Barry McNamee found Dooley free at the back post but his right footed volley from five yards went agonisingly wide of the target.
The lively Timlin rattled the back post with his powerful free-kick from the right of the penalty area five minutes after the break and the rebound was cleared behind for a corner.
McEleney tried his luck from distance too but his low strike was saved at the second attempt by Hunt.
Glorious
And Dooley somehow missed a glorious chance to seal the victory on 73 minute when he got onto the end of Timlin’s inviting cross but he somehow struck Martin Deady on the line with the goal at his mercy.
And Timlin was on the mark once again on 77 minutes when he latched onto a sublime McEleney pass and slotted clinically past Hunt.
Substitute Cillian Morrison was then sent clear but his low strike was saved well by Hunt.
Longford did have a great chance to pull a goal back three minutes from time but Doherty saved superbly at close quarters from David O’Sullivan’s strike and Dean Jarvis bravley blocked Dean Powell’s follow-up strike.
Derry City: G. Doherty 7: R. Cornwall 7, R. McBride 7, A. Barry 6, D. Jarvis 7; S. Dooley 7 (R. Curtis 6, 89), P. Lowry 7, C. McCormack 8, B. McNamee 7; M. Timlin 9 (M. Quigley 6, 89), P. McEleney 8 (C. Morrison 6, 79); Subs Not Used – S. Patton, J. Daniels, R. Curran, S. Sharkey.
Longford - P. Hunt 7; J. Mulhall 6, C. Powell 7, P. Sullivan 7, M. Deady 6; J. Doherty 6 (D. O’Sullivan 6 h-t), R. Gorman 6 (D. Cowan 6, 62), S. Rice 6, M. Salmon 6, K. Simon (L. Shannon 71), G. Shaw 6; Subs Not Used – K. Byrne, P. Skinner.
Brandywell faithful celebrate after 2 months without a goal and 12 games without a win
Derry City 3
Longford Town 0
IT WAS A case of lucky 13 for Derry City at Brandywell as they ended a dismal 12 match winless run with an impressive victory over Longford Town.
A superb brace of goals from man of the match Mark Timlin and a Rhys Gorman own goal ensured the Candystripes recorded their first league win since April 20th.
It was a hugely impressive performance from Hutton’s men and the inclusion of debutante Conor McCormack – City’s new signing from St Patrick’s Athletic – no doubt gave them a much needed lift.
Derry made a bright and dominant opening to the game and should really have taken the lead after just two minutes.
Stephen Dooley raced down the right wing and cut the ball back into the path of McNamee but the Ramelton man’s first time strike from 12 yards was hit straight at goalkeeper Paul Hunt who stood tall.
The home lot didn’t have to wait long for another opportunity as seven minutes later Gorman’s own goal gave Derry their first goal at Brandywell since 22 May.
Rob Cornwall’s low cross from the right was flicked on by McEleney and the ball came off the unfortunate Gorman and into the top corner.
There was no let up from the Candystripes and skipper Ryan McBride was gifted a free header at the back post from McEleney’s corner, but he sent his effort over the bar on 19 minutes.
Derry were piling on the pressure and doubled their advantage one minute later when Timlin played a neat one-two with McEleney and his powerful 25 yard strike took a slight deflection off Mark Salmon before nestling into the Longford net.
Longford did have a chance to get back in the game on 34 minutes when Pat Sullivan’s freekick found Kaleem Simon lurking at the far post but his tame header was gathered easily by Ger Doherty.
Four minutes before the break Barry McNamee found Dooley free at the back post but his right footed volley from five yards went agonisingly wide of the target.
The lively Timlin rattled the back post with his powerful free-kick from the right of the penalty area five minutes after the break and the rebound was cleared behind for a corner.
McEleney tried his luck from distance too but his low strike was saved at the second attempt by Hunt.
Glorious
And Dooley somehow missed a glorious chance to seal the victory on 73 minute when he got onto the end of Timlin’s inviting cross but he somehow struck Martin Deady on the line with the goal at his mercy.
And Timlin was on the mark once again on 77 minutes when he latched onto a sublime McEleney pass and slotted clinically past Hunt.
Substitute Cillian Morrison was then sent clear but his low strike was saved well by Hunt.
Longford did have a great chance to pull a goal back three minutes from time but Doherty saved superbly at close quarters from David O’Sullivan’s strike and Dean Jarvis bravley blocked Dean Powell’s follow-up strike.
Derry City: G. Doherty 7: R. Cornwall 7, R. McBride 7, A. Barry 6, D. Jarvis 7; S. Dooley 7 (R. Curtis 6, 89), P. Lowry 7, C. McCormack 8, B. McNamee 7; M. Timlin 9 (M. Quigley 6, 89), P. McEleney 8 (C. Morrison 6, 79); Subs Not Used – S. Patton, J. Daniels, R. Curran, S. Sharkey.
Longford - P. Hunt 7; J. Mulhall 6, C. Powell 7, P. Sullivan 7, M. Deady 6; J. Doherty 6 (D. O’Sullivan 6 h-t), R. Gorman 6 (D. Cowan 6, 62), S. Rice 6, M. Salmon 6, K. Simon (L. Shannon 71), G. Shaw 6; Subs Not Used – K. Byrne, P. Skinner.
Man of the match: Mark Timlin (Derry City)
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Airtricity League Brandywell Candystripes Derry Derry City League of Ireland Longford Longford Town SSE Airtricity League SSE Airtricity League Premier Division Supporting LOI Derry City Longford Town