Late Shamrock Rovers comeback denies luckless Derry City at Brandywell

A LUCKLESS Derry City slumped to successive home defeats as a disastrous four minute spell late in the second half kept intact Shamrock Rovers 100 perfect start to the season.

Walter Figueira gave the Candy Stripes a 36th minute lead when his cross from the left crept into the net at the far post for his second goal of the season.

A disciplined Derry performance had frustrated the league leaders but when Dean Williams' glancing header rebounded back off the post the ball bounced off the face of an unfortunate Colm Horgan and into the net.

Four minutes later Graham Burke's cross was turned in by Roberto Lopes to turn the game on its head.

Derry pressed during five minutes of second half stoppage time and Alan Mannus produced two terrific saves to deny Ciaron Harkin and then Eoin Toal to ensure a 10th successive league win for the Hoops.

The win leaves Stephen Bradley's men with a six point cushion on the summit after seven straight wins as they remain hot favourites for the title.

Derry have notched up just one win from four at home so far this season but Declan Devine will no doubt have been encouraged by the performance.

Rovers made just one change from their victory over Finn Harps with former Derry City left-back, Danny Lafferty replacing Neil Furrugia who dropped to the bench as he recovers from the effects of a knock sustained last week.

Derry, meanwhile, were unchanged from the team which defeated St Pat's at Richmond Park last Monday night.

New signing, former Barnsley favourite, Adam Hammill was cleared to take his place on the bench after completing his 14 day quarantine period.

Ireland boss, Stephen Kenny and his opposition analyst Ruiadhri Higgins were both in attendance, running their eye over Jack Byrne, who is in contention for his third cap ahead of next month's Nations League double header against Bulgaria and Finland.

There was a minute's silence impeccably observed in memory of the club's late President, John Hume who was laid to rest on Wednesday.

Rovers began to boss possession and with 10 minutes on the clock, Lafferty's strike from the edge of the penalty area failed to trouble Peter Cherrie.

For all Rovers' possession in the opening half hour the Hoops couldn't find a way through a resolute Derry defence who kept their shape well.

And against the run of play, Derry stunned the visitors when breaking the deadlock with the first effort on target in the match on 36 minutes.

Eoin Toal broke forward from midfield and when Figueira latched on to the ball wide on the left wing his inswinging cross was misjudged by Roberto Lopes and caught Alan Mannus napping as it nestled in at the far post.

Derry were disciplined and worked hard to contain Rovers who lacked potency in the final third.

When Jack Malone was fouled 35 yards from the Rovers goal, Joe Thomson sent his free-kick into a dangerous area but Ally Gilchrist's header was well off the mark.

Rovers boss Bradley made a double substitution at half-time with Graham Burke and Neil Farrugia replacing Lafferty and an ineffective Dylan Watts.

And Burke didn't need long to try his luck from distance but his effort sailed high over Cherrie's net.

Byrne did superbly to send Farrugia in behind the Derry defence just inside the Derry penalty area on 57 minutes but he was off target with his first time effort.

Rory Gaffney and Dean Williams were introduced as Rovers threw caution to the wind, opting for four strikers for the final 20 minutes.

And the pressure reaped its rewards during a four minutes spell which turned the game on its head.

On 78 minutes Gaffney's cross from the right was met by a glancing header from fellow sub, Williams and the ball rebounded off the far post before hitting the unfortunate Horgan in the face and it crossed the line for a Rovers equaliser.

Rovers were ramping up the pressure and on 81 minutes Farrugia found Williams inside the six yard box and his effort was turned behind by Cherrie.

From the resultant short corner, Burke eventually sent the cross into a crowded area and Lopes reacted quickest to turn the ball past Cherrie as Rovers took the lead.

In the final minute Figueira found space 10 yards from goal but he rolled his shot into the outstretched hands of Mannus.

With five minutes of stoppage time signalled Derry almost capitalised from an Adam Hammill corner as Harkin's deft header crashed off the crossbar. The rebound fell kindly to Toal but his header at the near post was parried clear by Mannus as Rovers held on for the win.

Derry City: P. Cherrie: C. Horgan, E. Toal, A. Gilchrist, C. Coll; J. Malone (D. Cole 83), C. McCormack, G. Bruna (C. Harkin 71), W. Figueira; J. Thomson (A. Hammill 83); J. Akintunde (S. Mallon 71): Subs Not Used - N. Gartside, C. Clifford, M. McChrystal.

Shamrock Rovers: A. Mannus; L. Grace, R. Lopes, J. O'Brien (R. Gaffney 63); R. Finn (R. Marshall 76), A. McEneff, G. O'Neill, D. Lafferty (N. Farrugia h-t); J. Byrne, A. Greene (D. Williams 67), D. Watts (G. Burke h-t); Subs Not Used - L. Pohls, L. Scales.

Referee - Derek Tomney (Dublin).