David Parkhouse scored his eighth goal in four games as Derry City inched into the second round of the FAI Cup with a narrow victory against Wexford at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium. The Derry City striker's late winner on Friday night put De
David Parkhouse scored his eighth goal in four games as Derry City inched into the second round of the FAI Cup with a narrow victory against Wexford at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.
The Derry City striker's late winner on Friday night put Derry through to the next round, just about. In fairness, Wexford were defensively brilliant for most of the tie, frustrating the Candystripes for large spells.
City have won the FAI three times since the turn of the century but you'd have to go back to 2012, during Declan Devine's initial stewardship, to see the Candstripes last lift the domestic honour.
Alarm bells were ringing early for the Wexford FC defence as City began at a ferocious pace, Michael McCrudden's shot skimming past the far post following a nice deft pass from David Parkhouse.
But in truth, however, the first half was low-key and an injury to referee Damien McGrath just before the half an hour mark, prompting fourth official Garvin Taggart into action, took the sting out of the game.
Devine, a frustrated looking figure for most of the first half, remained vexed for much of the second. However, in the final 10 minutes, Derry began to turn the screw and it looked only a matter of time before Wexford's valiant defensive structure would be infiltrated.
Brian O'Sullivan's side looked like they would force the game into extra-time - before who else other than David Parkhouse slammed one home from inside the penalty area.
It was cruel on Wexford with strong performances from two more centre-halves, Daibhid Corish and Lee Costello, throwing themselves to try and block every cross and shot, that also marked this performance.
