Zayed helps send Derry top

Derry City 2 St Patrick’s Athletic 0

Eamon Zayed's 20th goal of the season, and a second from an own goal, put Derry City top of the table on goal difference tonight, for 24 hours at least.

Though both Derry goals stemmed from defensive errors, Stephen Kenny's side deserved their win.

The opening goal came on 72 minutes when Danny Lafferty's deep cross came off the chest of defender Brian Shortall, under pressure from Zayed, to run past advancing keeper Chris Bennion and into the net. Zayed claimed afterwards that he got the slightest of final touches to the ball.

St Pat's midfielder Dave Mulchay then had the misfortune to miscue a corner from Derry skipper Kevin Deery into his own net for the second on 83 minutes.