Shelbourne 1 Derry City 2

Derry hit twice in the second half to take all three points on a night when many of their title challengers dropped points.  However having fallen behind after only two minutes it looked a long way back for the Candystripes.

City continued their undefeated run in the League which now stretches four months, but they were made to work all the way by a busy and energetic home side.  The home side hit the front after just two minutes when Coburn stabbed home a corner from six yards which City failed to defend.

The Candystripes took plenty of time to settle and only began to find their rhythm at the end of the first half.  Mark Farren and Shane McEleney both had chances for City in the opening period but the home side were good value for the lead in the first period.

The second half belonged to the visitors but Gerard Doherty kept his side in the game when a world class save denied McGill.  Shels were to rue this missed chance as less than a minute later City were back on level terms. Doherty provided the assist for the equaliser when Farren latched on his goal kick to fire past a helpless Delaney.

The home side continued to provide plenty of awkward moments for the visitors, but Molloy and McBride were increasingly influential in the middle of the park.  City lost Farren and Patrick McEleney to injury, allowing Lafferty and McCrudden to make their City debuts.

Having forced their way back into the game City looked the more threatening and the fluid attacking threat of Harkin, McDaid, McCrudden amongst other proving a real threat to Shels.  Indeed the winning goal was a microcosm of the craft and invention of City's season.

McBride anticipated a Shels clearance, won the ball in the middle of the park and swept it to Harkin on the near side.  Harkin showing great awareness, backheeled the ball into the path of a marauding Daniel Lafferty on the left wing.  Lafferty burned off his marker for pace and delivered a low ball across the 18yard line.  The ball found it way to McDaid but he was forced wide and it appeared as if the chance would better out.  McDaid showing real invention, lobbed the ball over his marker and into the 6 yard box where Thomas McBride powered the header past Delaney.

City wound the clock down to rain on Alan Matthew's parade and take a massive three points in the race for the title.  The additional injuries are bound to a concern to Stephen Kenny but the nature of the performance of his players which produced this victory will surely bring a smile to his face.