Derry City, The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium: a team and a venue which conspired to create a moment Declan Devine and company could hardly forget. David Parkhouse first-half strike followed by an own goal from Josh Collins and an Eoghan Stokes b
Derry City, The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium: a team and a venue which conspired to create a moment Declan Devine and company could hardly forget.
David Parkhouse first-half strike followed by an own goal from Josh Collins and an Eoghan Stokes blow in the second half was enough to seal Declan Devine's first win as Derry City manager in his second coming.
Parkhouse hardly had a sniff in the opening 20 minutes but the centre-forward made no mistake after 21 minutes when Ciaron Harkin put it on a plate for the powerful 19-year-old.
An excellent move started off by Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe, who swept Harkin into the 18-yard-box, flicking the ball forward before Parkhouse got on the end of an engaging low-cross to open the scoring - ecstasy for the Derry faithful. UCD did have an effort of their own scamper past Peter Cheerie's near post after 57 minutes.
However, any anxieties Devine may have harboured about his team switching off were soothed in the 60th minute. With Stokes playing a deft pass into space for Parkhouse, Kearns was quick of his line, but he didn't clear the danger.
The goalkeeper was schooled by Eoghan Stokes who fired an audacious gauntlet at the UCD goals - Josh Collins was on the retreat and it looked like he might just clear the danger, but one fatal hesitation cost the defender as he nodded into his own goal to double City's advantage.
The nerves eased and the noise got louder on Foyleside and City began to turn on the style. The Creggan Candystripe, Harkin, an anchor in midfield all evening, showcased his pristine passing ability when he unleashed the relentless Stokes after 66 minutes.
The former Bohemians midfielder added an extra layer of gloss to his performance, which shortly ended thereafter, with a goal of his own. The nerves eased and the noise got louder on Foyleside and City began to turn on the style. An excellent all-around performance from the Candystripes
