Derry City 1
Athlone Town 1
RYAN COULTER produced several stunning saves to help Athlone Town secure what could be a crucial point come the end of the season.
The son of one of Derry’s best known singing personalities, Phil Coulter enjoyed a game he’ll remember for some time to come as he denied both Rory Patterson and Patrick McEleney either side of the interval.
Derek Doyle had stunned the Candystripes when he poked the ball past Ger Doherty after 10 minutes to give the visitors the lead.
Rory Patterson then spared City’s blushes as the striker netted an equalising strike to salvage a point.
It was Patterson’s 19th strike of the campaign but Derry really should have went on to win this match as they twice struck the post and had a shot cleared off the line.
The midlanders had stunned their hosts on 10 minutes when Derek Doyle was played into space by Sean Brennan and he got in between the two City centre halves all too easily and poked the ball past Doherty.
The ball struck both posts before trickling over the line to give Athlone the early advantage — that goal taking them off bottom spot in the league for the first time this season.
Derry came so close to equalising one minute later from Stephen Dooley’s free-kick which was flicked on towards the back post but Ryan McBride couldn’t get a telling touch and Coulter gathered.
Ten minutes later Philip Lowry rose highest to meet Mark Timlin’s corner and his header was cleared off the line by Eric Foley. It was only a matter of time before Derry broke Athlone’s resolve and the equaliser duly arrived on the half hour mark.
Dooley’s cross was headed clear but it fell to Patterson just inside the penalty area and the striker drilled the ball clinically into the corner.
Patrick McEleney should have added a second when he ran through on goal, side-stepped a defender inside the box but his placed shot was palmed behind superbly by Coulter, Both sides made a stuttering start to the second half but Patterson came close to getting his second when he volleyed Dooley’s cross into the ground at the back post and it bounced narrowly over.
Coulter came to his side’s rescue with a fantastic block from Patterson on 70 minutes after the striker’s initial shot had bounced back off the far post. Patterson did well to shrug off the attentions of his marker with six minutes to go before playing Michael Duffy into space but the winger’s shot struck the outside of the post and went wide.
Duffy was gifted the perfect opportunity to win the match on 89 minutes when Patterson laid the ball into his path but he sliced his shot wide from close range.
But it wasn’t to be for City as Athlone dug deep to hold on for a crucial point.
Derry City: G. Doherty; D. Jarvis, R. McBride, A. Barry, M. Timlin; S. Dooley (J. Daniels 76), P. Lowry, B. Molloy (B. McNAmee 76), M. Duffy; P. McEleney. R. Patterson; Subs Not Used: C. Gallagher, N. Boyle, S. Dunlop, S. Houston, R. Curran.
Athlone: R. Coulter; B. Shorthall (I Sweeney 50), D. Prendergast, A. Byrne, K. Knight; D. Hayes, M. Hughes, E. Foley (J. O’Brien 65), K. Dillon, D. Doyle (P. Gorman); S. Brennan; Subs Not Used: P. Skinner, A. Collins, S. Dunne, D. Ebbe.
Referee - Rob Harvey (Dublin).
I’m a united fan, but, in united, the Glazers have their own personal license to print money, (literally billions). The only way they’ll ever be gotten rid of is legislation, or if its no longer profitable.
Media/social media pressure, will make zero difference.
@Martin Malone: Social media pressure is making a huge difference. Team Viewer who recently partnered with the glazers at United saw stocks fall by 4% in one day. Trustpilot now banning reviews pn them after all the negativity. Once sponsors start falling, the Glazers become out of pocket and will sell
@Hugh: I genuinely hope you’re right …I just think news comes and goes so quick these days ..In a few weeks it will be as if nothing has happened…we’ll pay over the odds for Sancho…and all will be forgotten… we’ll pick up odd cups here and there…and eventually when the club is no longer as profitable…it will be sold. Hope ta f I’m wrong.
Get out of my club and take your debt with you.
@Jason Flynn-Wall: to be fair it’s his club
@thomas walsh: how do Mancunians find their way to our 42 page?
@Joe: beats me
Their rattled, promise the sun moon and stars now..
I don’t support United. But i certainly don’t support the glazers either.
Gary Neville mentioned the ground at old Trafford is in dire need of upgrading , rats were reported seen around the seats last year and so forth , he said the glaziers are siphoning money out of the club etc . I’m lost in wonder when I consider the glazers have pumped almost a billion in to buying players , they’ve won numerous trophies and sacked managers the fans weren’t happy with . Sir Alex never complained about them and I think he wouldn’t hold back if he thought the club was being wronged , especially when he had nothing to lose at the end of his reign .They are business people at the end of the day . The recent rioting by united yobs was disgraceful , the decent ones are disgusted I’d imagine ? A peaceful one should have been the norm .
@Tricksy: glazers bought the club with a loan
Transferred the debt of the loan to the club
Have put $0 of their own money back into the club
All transfers have came from revenue
They have taken 2 billion from the club
Agree with the peaceful protest.
@Pauly Kels: previous Liverpool owner hick s and Gillett did the exact same and nearly put the club out of business , but they never sourced transfers like the Glazers Pauly . It seems this is an American business model ? Don’t think if fsg came under the same model but definitely the price they paid is only a pittance to what it’s worth now . I think the breakaway would destroy the game , but the fiddler calls the tune and it won’t go away .Sir Alex always had me wondering about why he stayed quiet on the Glazers . Stan kronke put a brand new stadium around Arsenal , so what owners do isn’t all bad .
@Tricksy: lfc were very lucky hicks and gillett owernship only lasted 3.5 years, this is going on 16 yrs with utd.the transfers that were sourced all funds were made available from revenue not a cent from the glazers pockets.yes exactly that breakaway would have destroyed football.
Straight out of the ‘row with the missus’ playbook.
There’s only one winner here bud
If they’re not going to reduce the mountain of debt they’ve lumped on the club then this letter is useless as that’s really the core issue most fans have. If they don’t reduce debt then they can feck off. They’re only parasites feeding off the club.
Thw money from united went to gwt tom brandy to to the Bucs. They win thw super bowl and the money stays in Tampa
Orignally when they bought the bucs. They wanted a new stadium or they moved. The Tampa government built one. Been there a few times fine place. But again a freebee. Ols Trafford hasnt been updated in years, it will fall behind the rest. All because of greed.
They want you all out not talking more
They should f off back to Jacksonville
The horse has bolted long ago. No point in closing the door now Joel.