Pat Hoban the Derry City hero again at the Brandywell!
Waterford dominated as Derry City maintain 100% home record this season
Derry City 3
Waterford 0
Pat Hoban claimed the match ball as Derry City dominated 10-man Waterford to maintain their 100% record at the Brandywell
The striker was again the hero for City, scoring two to take his tally to five goals in five games, although he is certainly claiming six, despite Darragh Leahy turning the ball into the net for the first.
Daniel Kelly passed up a great chance to opening the scoring before City eventually took the lead just four minutes before half time. The goal was down to quick thinking by Paul McMullan, who took a free kick quickly to send Michael Duffy into the penalty area. Duffy attempted to pick out Hoban in the middle, but the striker only touched the ball onto the knees of Darragh Leahy, who turned the ball into his own net from close range.
Derry doubled the lead on the stroke of half time with a spectacular effort from Hoban. Ben Doherty’s free kick into the area saw Mark Connolly head the ball down into the crowd and the striker reacted quickest, hooking the ball over his head and into the net past Sam Sargeant to make it 2-0 with the final kick of the half.
The game was over as a contest for Waterford just seven minutes into the second half when a bad night got even worse for Leahy, who was sent off for fouling Paul McMullan in the penalty area. Hoban put the ball on the spot and confidently stroked home his second of the night to make it 3-0 to seal the three points with almost 40 minutes still to play.
Injuries to Mark Connolly and Adam O'Reilly took some shine off the win, but it is now three wins and two draws from the first five games for Ruaidhri Higgins and his players, who head to Bohemians next week.
Teams
Derry City: Maher, Doherty, McJannet, Connolly (S McEleney 59’), Boyce, O’Reilly (Todd 68’), McEneff, Duffy (Mullen 54’), Kelly, McMullan, Hoban.
Waterford: Sargeant, Power (Forde 28’), Burke, Horton, Baggley, Parsons (McCormack 82’), Leahy, Radkowski (McCourt 57’), Macadam (Akachukwu 82’), Amond, Asamoah (McDonald 57’).
Referee: Paul Norton