Derry dominate their defensive visitors

SOCCER LEAGUE OF IRELAND:Derry City 1 St Patrick's Ath 0 (McGlynn 75)

DERRY CITY’S lively right winger Gareth McGlynn secured his side’s vital victory in the 75th minute at the Brandywell last night.

And it was fully deserved, as the home side had dominated the scoring chances against a St Patrick’s team that opted to play a defensive game.

However, it took a tactical switch in the 70th minute to breach that defence as Derry switched to a 4-3-3 formation before getting the breakthrough goal five minutes later.

Steven Gray left his full-back berth to race to the byline and his low centre found the unmarked McGlynn who diverted the ball home at the back post.

Five minutes after the break the visitors lost their top striker Mark Quigley, who appeared to pull up with a hamstring problem.

St Patrick’s were presented with a superb chance to break the deadlock in the 69th minute when Clive Delaney played a loose square pass. The alert Ryan Guy nipped in but his shot from 18 yards was directed straight at Derry goalkeeper Gerard Doherty and he had an easy save to make.

DERRY CITY:Doherty; McCallion, Delaney, Hutton, Gray; McGlynn, Higgins, Deery, Scullion (McManus, 69); Morrow, Farren (McClean, 88).

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC:Rogers; Maher, Partridge, Gavin, Ryan (Stevens, 18); Guy, Lynch, Byrne, O'Connor; Quigley (Moran, 50), Harris (Haran, 84).

Referee:D Tomney (Dublin).