Slick Derry move into second place

SOCCER: AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION: Derry City 2 Dundalk 0:DERRY CITY moved into second spot in the Premier Division table following what was a comfortable win over Dundalk. In fact the game was won in the first half when the home side netted the goals which decided the match.

And Derry thoroughly deserved their 2-0 half-time lead having produced some superb passages of play.

Indeed the Dundalk defence was regularly stretched by the workrate and trickery of wingers, Gareth McGlynn and James McClean.

And those efforts were rewarded in the 31st minute when McGlynn broke the deadlock.

The goal was fashioned by a Patrick McEleney break through the centre of the park and when he found McGlynn, the winger’s low shot crept into the corner of the net.

Derry doubled their lead four minutes later and again, the goal followed another flowing move.

Daniel Lafferty broke on the left and as McClean’s touch appeared to be going wide, Eamon Zayed slid in on the blind side to guide the ball home from an acute angle.

Dundalk’s Daniel Kearns produced some moments of tricky on the right flank while Ross Gaynor and Mark Quigley failed to hit the target when well-placed.

And with McClean and McGlynn continuing to cause no shortage of problems on the flanks, Dundalk found themselves on the back foot.

After the break the home side continued to boss the ball and McGlynn went close again in the 58th minute, his swirling cross touched on to the crossbar by visiting goalkeeper Peter Cherrie.

Derry continued to dominate the possession and while Jason Byrne and Quigley had chances for the visitors near the end, they both failed to trouble home goalkeeper, Gerard Doherty.

DERRY CITY:Doherty; McCallion, Greacen, McEleney, Lafferty; McGlynn, Higgins, Deery, McClean; P. McEleney (McLaughlin, 72), Zayed.

DUNDALK:Cherrie; Madden, Guthrie, Hawkins, Murphy; Kearns, McDonnell (Ward, 75), Bennett, Gaynor; Byrne, Quigley.

Referee:D Hancock (Dublin)