Zayed double fires Candystripes top

DERRY CITY went top in Terryland Park last night as Galway United set a league record for consecutive defeats, last night’s loss being the 19th league game on the trot in which they have tasted defeat.

The visitors dominated from the first whistle, and didn’t have long to wait to open the scoring, Eamon Zayed converting from the penalty spot in the 11th minute after Bobby Ryan clattered into the back of Kevin Deery.

The goal seemed to stir resistance in the home side, who came into the game, but while they attacked with menace, they failed to test Ger Doherty in the Derry goal.

Derry manager Stephen Kenny named James McClean on the bench after the Candystripes accepted an offer for the winger from Sunderland, but Derry never missed his creativity as they soon quelled United’s brief rally to take a stranglehold of the game with a second goal.

Pat McEleney was allowed far too much time on the right, and his cross picked out Zayed at the back post, who headed back across goal and inside Conor Winn’s left post for his second of the night, and his 19th of the season.

United were much improved in the second half, but still struggled to test Doherty, and the visitors extended their lead in the 76th minute with their first shot on target in the second half, McEleney firing past Winn from the edge of the box after good work from Zayed on the right.

GALWAY UNITED: Winn; Preston-Kelly, Browne, Gaughan, Walsh; Kim, Sinnott, Kelly, Ryan (Gilmore 56); Murphy, Caldwell (Collins 51).

DERRY CITY: Doherty; McCallion, Greacen, S McEleney, Friars; Deery (Harkin 78), Higgins, Molloy, McLaughlin; Zayed, P McEleney (McDaid 81).

Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin).