Baptism of fire for Bennett

Former Drogheda United goalkeeper Neil Bennett will make his debut for Derry City against the might of Barcelona at the Brandywell this evening intent on putting in a performance that will nail him a long-term contract at the Premier Division club.

Bennett spent a brief spell at Drogheda last season, but in January returned to his native England where he signed a short-term contract with Bradford City.

He was unable to make a major impact at Valley Parade, however, his most high-profile outing coming in a reserve match against Middlesbro, which served as the comeback game of Brazilian star Juninho and ended in a 9-0 walloping for Bennett and Co.

After being allowed to go on loan to Rochdale for the last two months of last season, the 22-year-old was released by the Bantams at the end of the campaign.

He spent the summer searching for a new club, and underwent a satisfactory trial at Coventry City only to be told his services would not be needed at Highfield Road.

Bennett told the Irish Sun: “I played one game [at Coventry] and was told I’d done well but Gary McAllister wants a more experienced goalkeeper for his first-team squad.”

He is in line to make his competitive debut for the Candystripes against Apoel Nicosia of Cyprus in Thursday’s Uefa Cup qualifying round first leg tie after Uefa granted Derry special dispensation to sign a new keeper following the serious knee injury suffered by recent signing Wayne Russell in his debut against Cork City ten days ago. Alan Gough is suspended for the game in Cyprus as a result of a ban carried over from his time at Glentoran.


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