Derry Fans reaction from www.derrycityfc.net
James O'Toole on City's 2-1 loss to Longford
The only differance between the two teams was a good striker I know, I know thats what evrybody has been saying for weeks now but it was more apparant last night than any match I've seen in ages. The ref didn't help our cause at all longford were awarded their free kick in the fourth minute of injury time that may sound bad but it's actually even worse as the fourth official only indicated for two minutes.
We started with what I thought was a good team last night with Darren Mc creedie replaceing sean friars (who didn't seem to be at the game at all so I recon he has got a little bit of an injury). And if the truth be known we played very well in all areas of the field. On twenty three minutes we got the goal all our work deserved but at the same time we had luck on our side. A high ball was out in between the two defenders and Padraig one of the defenders got his head two to knock it back to the keeper, as the keeper dived to collect the ball in he miss judged it, the ball bounced of the post and into Padraigs path one nill. The longford number seven claimed that the defender was fouled but all his complaining got him was a red card, which I have to say was a bit harse. We created more and more chances but just didn't have anybody in the area to put them away.
The second half was more of the same really Gareth Mc glynn was creating chance after chance but with nobody able to convert any in was just like a training game for the Longford keeper. What ever Matthews said to his team at half time worked as they came out all guns blazing and tried there best to get Gary Beckett taken home in an Ambulance. Everyone of their defenders and midfielders had a pop at him. Then the worse act of violence i've seen on a pitch since last Sundays Connaught final (when the mayo fella elbowed sean og) happened, directly in front of the linesman the Longford No 2 elbowed gary into the face agry went down like a sack of spuds and stayed down for nearly five minutes or so, when the ref asked his linesman waht had happened he said he didn't see anything. Within two minutes of gary getting back to his feet he challenged for a header with the central defender and got a kick in the head for his troubles of and of course the Longfors defender got a free kick from it. Darren mc creedy had oneof the best chances of the half when he cut inside bet his marker then let go a good shot which was wel saved by the keeper. With ten minutes to go it looked like we were going into the final as longford threw everything includeing the kitchen sink at us and David Forde (who still doesn't know if his loan spell will be increased or not) made a couple of good saves. Then everything went made a scamble in the box ended with the ball being lopped over forde and going in of the bottom of the post.
Extra time was the same as every extra time I'm sure everybody has every seen. One team attacking the other holding out for penalties and for once we were doing the attacking. The first half went by with nothing really happening But as the second half drew to a close they got that free kick on the edge of the box, Matthews was sent from the duggout to the fence all of two yards away and the longford player just hit as hard as he could along the ground and after a scramble at the far post it somehow went in.
You will probably have noticed that I haven't mentioned Mr Lavine at all, The reason for this is that Paddy marked him out of the game and didn't really create anything although he did look dangerous at times, But if it was upto me (which it isn't) I wouldn't give them anything or him and would start looking for another striker.
All in all I though we played well and created enough chances to win two games easily. Which all bodes well for the next two games.
Signed
An absolute disgrace
Footnote: BBC reckoned Derry were cruising until Francis goal...
Re: Derry Fans reaction from www.derrycityfc.net
Quote:
Originally posted by Xlex
The ref didn't help our cause at all longford were awarded their free kick in the fourth minute of injury time that may sound bad but it's actually even worse as the fourth official only indicated for two minutes.
Bit rich for Derry to complain about that, exactly the same thing happened for their equalising goal in the cup quarter final in Belfield a few years back.
