Shock win over Derry lifts United

Date Published: 04-Sep-2009

GALWAY United defied the odds – of both the historical and bookmaker kind – in the Brandywell on Tuesday night to record a shock 3-1 win over Derry City to end a run of three consecutive defeats and reclaim sixth place in the table.

United fell behind to an goal in the fourth minute, but Dave Cooke equaliser just before the break, and second half strikes from Aaron Greene – his first for the club – and Alan Murphy sealed what was only a third win in 21 visits to the Brandywell and surely sees United safe from the sole relegation slot.

United were without four first-choice players through a combination of suspension (Shane Guthrie) and injury (Declan O’Brien, Iarflaith Davoren and captain, John Russell), and it left Ian Foster with just a squad of 14 for the game.

The win leaves United 11 points ahead of bottom placed Bray Wanderers, with 10 games remaining, and given the fact Bray – who do have a game in hand over United – have won just four games all season, it looks highly unlikely United will slip that far down the table with less than a third of the season to go.

Tuesday’s win means Ian Foster’s side now sit sixth in the table and have moved back ahead of St Patrick’s Athletic, the side Jeff Kenna left United for before the start of the season.

While United now…