Athlone Town 0 Derry City 1
Derry City completed a very successful week for the club with a smash-and-grab raid on Athlone Town's Lissywoollen home, taking all three points despite spending most of the game on the back foot.
Patrick McEleney’s stunning 30-yard free kick after 20 minutes turned out to be the only goal of the game, even though Athlone had several excellent chances to level matters over the course of the game.
Philip Gorman passed up two gilt-edged opportunities before the interval, failing to capitalise on an underhit Danny Venre backpass and then directing a close-range header against the post, while he also missed the target with another header shortly after the restart.
Seán Brennan then drew a fantastic save from Ger Doherty in the 53rd minute but despite facing relentless pressure throughout the final half hour, Derry produced an excellent defensive effort against the odds and consequently are now in the top half of the league for the first time this season.
ATHLONE TOWN: Skinner; Quigley, Prendergast, A Byrne, S Byrne; Hughes; Brennan (Sweeney 81), O'Brien, Dillon, Rusk (Mulroy 81); Gorman.
DERRY CITY: Doherty; Ventre, McBride (Jarvis (HT), S McEleney, Barry; Molloy, McNamee; Lowry (Curran 86), P McEleney (Boyle 75), Duffy; Patterson.
Referee: Graham Kelly
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