Derry City 2 St Patrick’s Athletic 1
City signed off the 2012 Airtricty League campaign with a home victory in front of the Brandywell faithful. First half goals from Simon Madden and David McDaid were enought ot secure all three points for the home side, despite a spirited second half come back from the visitors, who may feel that could have grabbed a point right at the end.
Simon Madden got the home side off to a great start when he grabbed an early breakthrough. Stewart Greacen played a nicely weighed pass to the edge of the box, which the full back took at past and went past two Pats defenders before slotting home. City started with Conor Murphy and David McDaid up front and the in from McDaid was the next to do the damage.
He had one chance, just after the half hour mark, which Murphy was able to easily saved, but it was to be a sighter for the striker. Barry McNamee continued his impressive end of season form and played in McDaid who fired low past Murphy to double the advantage for the home side.
In fact City were at their very best in the clsoing stages of the first half and really should have extended the lead further. McLaughlin and McDaid both had chances to extend the lead, and McDaid’s second effort was very unfortunate not to make it a three goal lead at the break. However Pats, slow to start after the epic battle in Sligo last week, could have reduced the deficit when Fagan when round Doherty and then placed the ball wide in the 44th minute.
If the home side had the better of the first half, the visitors bossed the second. As with last week, Pats found themselves with a two goal deficit and set to work reducing it with some gusto. Forrester pounced on a mistake by Greacen to fire home from 18 yards. Doherty had to be at his very best minutes later when he executed a superb save to post Chamber’s shot round the post from 12 yards out.
Indeed the Saints could have nicked a point right at the death as captain Kenna stuck the bar from a corner, but it was not to be as City signed off with a victory. There was to be no fairytale exit for Mark Farren who didn’t even make the starting squad, but the City team were able to round off their campaign with a victory.
