Finn Harps U13s took the spoils in the first northwest derby of the season over rivals Derry City at the Moss.
Finn Harps 4 Derry City 1
An impressive first half display set Harps up to take the three points on a crisp Wednesday evening.
In what was a nervous opening period of the match it was Derry who had the best chance.
Good hold up play from Brendan Roe allowed Trent Doherty the opportunity to get through on the right, with his strike flashing off the foot of the post.
As the game settled midway through the half Harps began to assert themselves. Shaun Patton powered a header over the bar after a scintillating run down the right by Aaron McLaughlin.
Just minutes later Harps opened the scoring with McLaughlin getting the goal after a dangerous corner from Tiernan McGinty. Two minutes later Harps could have doubled their advantage when McLaughlin volleyed a low shot after McGinty’s cross which Cian Gallagher pushed out to Patton. However the Derry shot-stopper recovered to force it wide for a corner.
Not to be denied, less than a minute later Patton raced on to a precise Conor Kelly through ball before rifling a right foot shot across into the bottom corner to give Harps their second goal.
At this point Kevin McHugh’s side was controlling proceedings and furthered their advantage six minutes before the break with a wonderful goal from Adam McDaid.
As Derry failed to clear convincingly from a corner the ball dropped to McDaid who drilled a low shot from 25 yards into Gallagher’s bottom left hand corner.
Derry came out in the second half with much more impetus looking for a way back into the game and were unlucky when they struck the woodwork for a second time. Brandon Crockett found time in the middle before playing Doherty through.
The winger this time fired his shot high of the crossbar much to the relief of Harps. A minute later Crockett was involved again when he forced a good save from keeper Killian Hagan, from the edge of the penalty area.
Derry continued in search of a goal and both Doherty and Oisin Harkin were guilty of spurning chances for the Candystripes as the half progressed.
Doherty fired over from a promising position, while Harkin shot across goal went agonisingly wide.
Derry found the net in the 61st minute when Doherty finally hit the net. Crockett was again instrumental playing Doherty through, this time steadying himself to convert past an onrushing Hagan.
Harps weathered the Derry pressure and wrapped up the result with eight minutes remaining. A neat interchange of passes between McLaughlin and Patton leading to the latter breaking through.
The forward having the presence of mind to square the ball across to substitute Joel Gibson who lifted his shot over the Derry goalkeeper.
Harps are back on the Moss pitch again this Saturday at 2pm when they face Longford Town in a rearranged fixture from the opening weekend of the season.
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