SWILLY ROVERS’ recent revival in the 4 Lanterns Ulster Senior League continued with a deserved win over Derry City.
Swilly Rovers 2 Derry City Reserves 0
Goals from the experienced duo of Marty McDaid and Laurence Toland fired Swilly to the win and gets them back on track following a narrow loss to Swilly Rovers on Thursday night.
Swilly were full value for their win here and landed two fine goals to mark a first win at Swilly Park this season.
The lead goal arrived on ten minutes as McDaid, who celebrated his 37th birthday on Thursday, deceived goalkeeper Mark McElhinney with a deft lobbed effort that left the netminder reaching for air.
Swilly have shown real improvement of late and grabbed a first win of the season when beating Cockhill, in the process handing the Inishowen side a first League loss in a 72-game sequence stretching back to July 2012.
Manager Gerry Crossan assumed control when Swilly replaced Aaron Rogan, after the Derryman had 39 days at the helm and Crossan’s gaze has always been to the future.
But it was the experienced men who led the way here.
Four minutes into the second half, Toland cracked home a wonderful second, firing into the top corner with a splendid effort that gave McElhinney no chance.
Derry arrived in Ramelton having been sanctioned by the Ulster Senior League midweek having breached the League’s rules governing the amount of senior players who could line out.
That meant the loss of points from last Sunday’s 3-1 win at Cockhill, the defending USL champions, and the Candystripes had none of the first-teamers on show here, though senior boss Kenny Shiels was in the dugout.
Swilly fashioned an early chance, but Jordan Toland headed just past the post, while Derry defender Lee McColgan had to be on guard to prod away at McDaid’s feet after McElhinney beat away a free-kick by Tony McNamee.
The heavy Swilly Park surface wasn’t conducive to playing the free-flowing football USL followers have come to expect from Derry’s young guns.
But the visitors did threaten when Adrian Delap, born and bred just a stone’s throw away at Ray.
[adrotate group=”53″]Delap, who is well on the rise with Derry, opened up the possibilities again on the half-hour and is cross was inviting for Ronan Wilson, who just couldn’t apply the finish touch from a glorious position.
McNamee, back in the colours of his hometown club again after a couple of seasons at Finn Harps in the League of Ireland, attempted to chip McElhinney, but his attempt was into the hands of the ‘keeper.
Derry broke clear again when Matt Duffy burst through, but his advances were halted at the vital moment when Paul Bradley – just on for the injured Shaun Crossan – intervened.
Swilly were defending stoutly and it took another timely interception, this one from Daniel O’Donnell, to halt the tracks of Matt Duffy, who initially brushed off the challenge of Dylan Hegarty.
[adrotate group=”46″]They’d led from the early strike by McDaid and Toland was soon adding a second and away on his knees in celebration.
Swilly Rovers: Caolan Bolton, Dylan Hegarty, Shaun Crossan, Marty McDaid, Damien Friel, Ryan Toland, Brandon Toye, Jordan Toland, Tony McNamee, laurence Toland, Daniel O’Donnell. Subs: Paul Bradley for Crossan (35).
Derry City Reserves: Mark McElhinney, Paul Doherty, Matt Doherty, Kieran Farren, Lee McColgan, Dean Power, Evan Tweet, Shane McNamee, Ronan Wilson, Adrian Delap, Matt Duffy. Subs: Cathal Farren for McNamee (half-time), Denver Kelly for Wilson (67), Rhys McDermott for Tweed (67).
Referee: Marty McGarrigle.
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