Birthday boy Will Patching seals victory at relegated Dundalk as Derry City's title hunt continues

BIRTHDAY BOY Will Patching rubber stamped Derry City's first league win on the road in almost two months to keep alive their Premier Division title hopes while condemning Dundalk to the First Division.

Colm Whelan was handed his first ever start for the Brandywell club and delivered the opening blow to the home side when Danny Mullen's header bounced off his back and nestled into the net on 16 minutes.

It was the perfect start for Ruaidhri Higgins troops and while Paul McMullan missed a glorious chance to seal the win, sub, Patching made sure from the penalty spot with 13 minutes to go after Robbie Benson clipped the heels of Michael Duffy inside the box.

The win ensures Derry remain two points behind leaders Shelbourne with just two games to go - a trip to St Pat's and that mouthwatering home clash with Damien Duff's men to come.

Shels and Shamrock Rovers both clinched victories on a pivotal night in the title race to ensure the top three remains the same but St Pat's are right in the mix as they moved into fourth spot with a 2-1 win over Galway. Just four points separate the top four going into the final two rounds of fixtures!

The Candystripes came into this must win encounter after two demoralising home draws against Bohs and Sligo. However, it's on the road where they've struggled this season.

The Brandywell men have won just four times away from home this season in the league prior to kick-off and needed TWO on the trot to stay in contention for the title!

It was a big ask against a Dundalk team who were battling for their lives - both on and off the pitch - while it was still mathematically possible to catch ninth placed Drogheda ahead of the most significant round of fixtures in the league so far.

Following that below par performance against the Bit O'Red last Monday night, Higgins, who admitted he made an error by fielding the same team for those two games inside four days last week, made three changes to the starting line-up. Ciaran Coll missed out through injury while the league's top scorer Pat Hoban started on the bench despite struggling with a hamstring injury. Patching was the third player to miss out as the Englishman, who was subbed at half-time against Sligo, began the night on the bench.

In came Shane McEleney for his first start since August 30th as Higgins went with an unfamiliar back four with Andre Wisdom deployed as left-back.

Whelan, making his 15th appearance for the club overall, remarkably was handed his first start since making the move to Foyleside 22 months ago having been so unfortunate with injuries.

His strike partner in an attacking 4-4-2 formation, Mullen also came into the fold for his first start in five fixtures hoping to add to his 10 goal tally for the season.

Skipper Patrick McEleney was a notable absentee once again, the midfielder missing out through injury.

There was no false start by Derry this time as they began with purpose but it was Dundalk who registered the first shot on target on 12 minutes.

Gullan held off Sadou Diallo to bring down a high ball played into the Derry final third before slotting it neatly through the legs of McEleney and racing towards goal. The Derry defence recovered well but the Dundalk striker still managed to get a shot on target which was saved comfortably by Brian Maher.

Derry broke the deadlock on 16 minutes - a huge goal in the context of their season - from Duffy's inswinging corner kick. Mullen rose to meet it and his header from 10 yards took a wicked deflection off the back of Whelan and hit the back of the net.

As it stood Derry were back on top of the table on goal difference from Shelbourne with games involving the rest of the contenders all scoreless.

That goal silenced an increasingly concerned home support and moments later O'Reilly gained possession in a promising area and drilled an effort which sailed narrowly wide of the post.

Mullen's brave glancing header with his back to goal on the halfway line sent Whelan through on a promising counter attack on 26 minutes but he was cynically brought crashing to the ground by Koen Oostenbrink who received a yellow card for his troubles.

From the resultant freekick swung in from 40 yards by Duffy, Mark Connolly rose highest but headed high and wide.

Whelan then tried his luck from 25 yards with a curling strike which sailed wide of the target - the ex-Ireland U21 international clearly growing in confidence!

Dundalk could so easily have been back on terms on 35 minutes when Dervin found the run of Gullan with a brilliantly timed ball over the shoulder of Boyce. Gullan was in behind but forced wide of the net and flashed his left footed strike across the face of goal and wide of the far post.

McMullan did well on the right wing to thread the ball through to Whelan just inside the Dundalk area but the striker's first time strike on his left foot was saved easily by Ross Munro on 41 minutes.

The half-time whistle blew and Derry were leading the way in the standings with Shelbourne drawing at home to Waterford, Shamrock Rovers being held by Drogheda while St Pat's were also big movers as the Saints were leading Galway 1-0 at Inchicore.

However, there was much work to do in a second half where Dundalk needed a win to, at best, hand themselves a stay of execution.

And the Lilywhites came out with their tails up with Daryl Horgan racing down the wing and delivering an inviting cross into the six yard box but Jad Hakiki's close range header was straight at Maher.

AT the other end Duffy clipped the ball towards the back post but Adam O'Reilly's header was cleared off the line by Hayde Cann. Dundalk failed to clear the danger, however, and when the ball fell to Diallo on the edge of the box his strike on the volley was beaten away by Munro.

Derry were let off the hook on 54 minutes when Boyce got on the wrong side of Hakiki. The summer signing from Shelbourne was in behind the Derry defence but was slowed down by a foul by Boyce. He stayed on his feet, worked his way into the penalty area but dragged his eventual shot wide of the near post.

Dundalk wasted another chance to get level on 63 minutes but it would've been a contentious one. Boyce burst forward from the halfway line and was clearly dragged back in front of the referee who waved play on as Dundalk overturned possession.

The home side spread the play to the right where Horgan fired a dangerous cross towards the back post but Gullan fluffed his lines as he headed the wrong side of the post.

Derry weathered the storm and came so close to doubling their lead on 70 minutes but when Duffy cut onto his right foot inside the penalty area his low strike was deflected just wide.

McMullan should've sealed the win when Duffy found him in acres of space on the penalty spot with a terrific cross but the Scotsman fired his effort straight at the keeper who turned it behind for corner.

Just over 60 seconds later Patching backheeled the ball into the path of Duffy who skipped past Benson who clipped the Derry man's heels and the referee pointed to the spot.

Patching stepped up to take the spotkick and nonchalantly tucked it into the corner, sending the keeper the wrong way to make it 2-0 with 13 minutes to go.

Down at Tolka Shelbourne completed their turnaround against Waterford with Sean Boyd completing his brace from the penalty spot to move back into the driving seat.

Dylan Watts then gave Rovers the lead in Drogheda to ensure the Hoops are not out of the running as the most compelling title run-in continues.

Dundalk: Munro; Mountney, Boyle, Cann, Keogh (Animasahun 72); Horgan, Dervin, Oostenbrink (Keane 63), Hakiki (O'Kane 63); Benson (Garbett 78); Gullan (Kenny 72).

Derry City: Maher: Boyce, Connolly (Idehen 79), S. McEleney, Wisdom; McMullan (Davenport 94), Diallo, O'Reilly, Duffy; Whelan (Patching 64), Mullen.

Referee - Gavin Colfer.