- Deniese O'Flaherty
- Sun, Aug 01 2021
Deniese O’Flaherty reports from Bishopsgate
Goals in either half from Danny Lafferty and Junior saw Derry City move up to sixth in the Premier Division table as they gained revenge for their opening game of the season defeat to the Midlanders.
Things look gloomy for Town who fell to their 13th defeat of the season. They remain rooted to the bottom of the table, nine points behind Finn Harps who have a game in hand.
They haven’t tasted victory in the league since that win over Derry City.
The home side started the game with a real purpose. Barely 20 seconds had elapsed on the clock when they tested Derry goalkeeper Nathan Gartside. Dylan Grimes cut the ball back to Aaron McNally and his low drive was pushed out by Gartside for a corner.
Derry were sluggish and slow out of the blocks. In the 17th minute James Akintunde’s effort was blocked down by Aaron O’Driscoll and the loose ball fell to Evan McLaughlin but he shot wide.
Both sides then had half chances but nothing to trouble either ‘keeper. A good move from Derry in the 31st minute yielded the opening goal. Junior played a pass to Akintunde and he in turn found Lafferty and he fired to the net.
Four minutes from the break Eoin Toal had to clear the danger as Rob Manley put in a dangerous ball across the face of the goal.
Derry had a great opportunity to double their advantage in the 57th minute. Junior laid the ball off to McLaughlin but his low drive just went inches wide. The home side tried to create chances but Derry were able to snuff them out.
In the 70th minute Aaron Robinson blocked Akintunde’s effort and from the resulting corner Lafferty volleyed over. Derry got their second in eight minute from times when Akintunde and Junior combined with the latter finding the back of the net with a fine strike.
Longford Town: Lee Steacy; Shane Elworthy (Karl Chambers, ‘13), Joe Manley, Aaron O’Driscoll, Paddy Kirk (Aaron Dobbs 57); Aodh Dervin, Aaron Robinson (Matthew O’Brien 74); Rob Manley (Callum Warfield 75), Dylan Grimes, Aaron McNally; Dean Williams.
Booked: Aodh Dervin (24), Aaron McNally (28), Aaron O’Driscoll (71)
Derry City: Nathan Gartside; Danny Lafferty, Ciaron Coll, Cameron McJannet, Eoin Toal, Ronan Boyce (Bastien Hery 48); Jack Malone, Joe Thomson, Evan McLaughlin (Darren Cole 76); James Akintunde (Jamie McGonigle 85); Junior.
Booked: Joe Thomson (22), Danny Lafferty (36)
Referee: John McLoughlin
extratime.com Player of the match: James Akintunde (Derry City)
