Derry City held to stalemate by St Pat's at Brandywell

A FRUSTRATED Derry City drew a blank for the second successive league match as St Patrick's Athletic came away from Brandywell with a well deserved point.

The teams came into the match level on points and desperately seeking victory but played out a drab draw where chances and creativity were at a premium.

It was the second scoreless draw for both teams with the Saints now five league matches without a win and chances of securing European football fading fast.

Declan Devine made two changes to the team which drew against Finn Harps last Sunday as Ibramhim Meite and Jake Dunwoody returned to the starting line-up at the expense of Walter Figueira and Jack Malone.

It was a scrappy opening from both teams but Derry managed to test Brendan Clarke from a Stephen Mallon free-kick on 10 minutes but Meite's header was saved comfortably.

The Dubliners responded and when Robbie Benson burst into the Derry penalty area, he cut it back to Georgie Kelly who took a touch before losing his footing at the crucial moment as the chance was lost.

From a free-kick wide on the left Jamie Lennon floated a cross towards the back post where Luke McNally headed over the crossbar on 18 minutes.

Akintunde, who netted on his City debut in the 2-0 win in Inchicore last month, had a gilt-edged chance to break the deadlock on 23 minutes.

Following a throw-in on the right, Darren Cole crossed low into the penalty area but Akintunde didn't strike his effort cleanly and Clarke saved.

Ciaron Harkin caught Neil Forrester late on the halfway line and the Saints playmaker reacted furiously sparking a melee between both sets of players as frustrations spilled over. Both Harkin and Forrester went into the referee's book for their troubles.

Mallon raced onto Conor McCormack's searching pass and skipped past the challenge of Lee Desmond but the Belfast man's left footed effort from eight yards went straight into the hands of Clarke on 38 minutes.

Devine introduced Adam Hammill at half-time, replacing Akintunde and Derry looked a lot more positive in the opening stages without threatening the Saints' goal.

The visitors kept possession well, culminating in a decent effort from Forrester from 25 yards which sailed over the Peter Cherrie's crossbar just before the hour mark.

Lennon found Kelly at the near post with a free-kick but the striker's deft flick was turned behind by Cherrie with 15 minutes to go as Pats looked likeliest to find a breakthrough.

Saints sub, Jason McClelland came so close to finding the net on 81 minutes as his curling free-kick from 20 yards brushed the side netting.

Walter Figueira had a chance to test Clarke after coming off the bench but he drilled his shot harmlessly into the hands of the Pats keeper.

Figueira fired a shot into a crowded six yard box during added time but neither side deserved to win this match.

Derry City: P. Cherrie: D. Cole, E. Toal, C. McJannett, C. Coll; S. Mallon, C. McCormack, C. Harkin (J. Malone 79), J. Dunwoody; J. Akintunde (A. Hammill h-t), I. Meite (W. Figueira 69); Subs Not Used - N. Gartside, C. Horgan, R. Boyce, M. McChrystal.

St Pat's: B. Clarke: R. Feely, L. Desmond, L. McNally, S. Griffin; J. Gibson (J. McClelland 79), J. Lennon, R. Benson, C. Forrester, B. King (D. Markey 72); G. Kelly (M. Rennie 87); Subs Not Used - C. Kearns, I. Bermingham, D. Ward, D. Burns.

Referee - Rob Harvey (Dublin).