Patching strikes late against Pat's to send Derry top

Goals in each half from Will Patching ensured Derry City saw off St Patrick's Athletic to move back into pole position in the Premier Division.

Ruaidhrí Higgins’ men had to work hard for the victory, which Patching won right at the death, firing home from long range, after his initial first half goal was cancelled out by Tom Grivosti.

The Brandywell men took the lead on four minutes in superb fashion as Patching, created himself some space some 25 yards from goal and his curling effort from the left fizzed into the net past Saints goalkeeper Joseph Anang.

The Dublin club went close to levelling things moments later but City keeper Brian Maher did well to parry away Billy King’s powerful 12 yard effort.

In the fifth minute of the game and under the stand bearing his name in the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, Derry City fans pay tribute to their captain and number five on the weekend of his fifth anniversary of his passing.

Minutes later Anang had to make a big save when he did well to keep out Ronan Boyce’s left footed strike.

St Pat’s missed a golden chance to equalise on 32 minutes as Mark Doyle’s right wing cross found King, but with the goal at his mercy, he headed over from close range.

The woodwork came to St Pat’s rescue just before the break as City front man Jamie McGonigle, who signed a contract extension earlier in the week, saw his close range shot from a tight angle come back off the post.

The visitors equalised right at the start of the second half as big defender Grivosti scored a stunner, as his 20 yard clipped effort, sailed in off Maher’s right hand post.

The Saints went close to taking the lead on 60 minutes, but Chris Forrester’s long range left footed strike, which had Maher beaten, flew just over the