- Gareth Danaher
- Sat, Apr 13 2019
Gareth Danaher reports from the UCD Bowl
Derry City moved into the top three after they saw out a 2-0 win against UCD at Belfield on Friday night thanks to goals from Greg Sloggett and Darren Cole.
The first 20 minutes of this game was a poor affair to say the least wit few clear cut chances created. The Candystripes saw most of the ball in the opening exchanges ash they looked to hold on to the ball.
They eventually took the lead mid-way through the half as former UCD player Sloggett tapped in his effort from three yards as he was left unmarked.
Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe impressed the Derry travelling crowd during the first half as he held the ball up well and also played neat passes with Eoghan Stokes and Barry McNamee.
Ogedi-Uzokwe required UCD goalkeeper Conor Kearns to be alert as he drove a shot from distance that Kearns parried the ball away. UCD captain Gary O’Neill was then on hand to stop the Colchester loanee from netting from five yards.
The Students started the second half on the front foot as Mark Dignam whipped in a delightful ball to find Yoyo Mahdy. However Mahdy jumped before the ball came to him and he missed the chance to grab an equalizer for the Students.
Soon after danger man for Derry Ogedi-Uzokwe lifted in a cross to the box to find Stokes at the back post but his headed effort fell comfortably into the arms of Kearns.
When Darren Cole blasted a shot from distance just before the hour mark, some Derry fans may have thought they were about to see a wonderstrike but Cole’s effort well went over the bar.
UCD didn’t learn from their earlier mistake when they had allowed Sloggett to score from from a corner. Again a similar situation, UCD failed to deal with a corner and were punished when the ball came in this time from the left hand side
Cole got the goal as he smashed the ball home from the edge of the box with his effort was nestling into the bottom right corner of Kearns goal.
The home team continued to dominate the game with possession but they couldn’t create any goals out of their long spells with the ball.
Manager Collie O’Neill introduced Paul Doyle and Kevin Coffey late on as they sought a way back into the game, but the two changes didn’t make a difference as Derry’s clean record at Belfield continues with the win moving the Candystripes above Dundalk in the table
UCD: Conor Kearns; Daniel Tobin, Mark Dignam, Liam Scales, Josh Collins, Richie O’Farrell (Paul Doyle 77), Neil Farrugia, Gary O’Neill, Yoyo Mahdy(Sean McDonald 87), Timmy Molloy, Jason McClelland (Kevin Coffey 77).
Subs not used: Gavin Sheridan (gk), Evan Farrell, Darragh Corcoran, Luke Boore.
Booked: None.
Derry City: Peter Cherrie; Ciaran Coll, Ciaron Harkin (89’ Evan Tweed), Greg Sloggett, David Parkhouse (Patrick McClean 87), Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe, Eoin Toal, Eoghan Stokes (Gerardo Bruna 73), Darren Cole, Ally Gilchrist, Barry McNamee.
Subs not used: Nathan Gartside (gk), Shane McNamee, Josh Kerr, Gianni Seraf.
Booked: Ciaran Coll (14), David Parkhouse (35).
Referee: Graham Kelly.
Attendance: 518
ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match: Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe (Derry City).
