Linfield 1 Derry City 1:DIMINUTIVE STRIKER David McDaid pounced with five minutes remaining to give Derry City a first-leg draw with Linfield last night.
And it was certainly worth waiting for. Barry Molloy’s cross was nodded back across goal by Stephen McLaughlin and McDaid volleyed past Alan Blayney from 10 yards.
It was a goal greeted with a huge cheer from Derry City fans, and among the large crowd was Northern Ireland’s deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, who was at Windsor Park for a game for the first time in 50 years.
Peter Thompson’s goal on 13 minutes looked like proving the difference but the scoreline could – and should – have been more flattering for the Carling Premiership champions.
Derry went close early on when McDaid curled a strike just over the angle of post.
However, it was former Northern Ireland striker Thompson who showed how it should be done, sticking out a foot to cushion Billy Joe Burns’ strike past the helpless Gerard Doherty.
LINFIELD: Blayney, Douglas, Gault, Curran, Lowry, Thompos, Carvill (Fordyce 72), Burns, Garret, Mulgrew, Watson. Subs not used: Armstrong, Hanley, Browne, Addis, Dougan, Casement.
DERRY CITY: Doherty, McCaffery, Molloy, Greacen, McEleney, Higgins (McBride 89), McDaid, P McEleney, McLaughlin, Crossan (Farren 60), Madden. Subs not used: Ferry, McCallion, Farran, R Curran, Barr, McNamee.
Referee: Raymond Crangle (Belfast)
