Derry City end winless run with victory at Shels

Derry City ended their seven-game winless run in the Premier Division with a 2-1 win against Shelbourne at Tolka Park.

Barry Cotter gave Derry a first half lead, with his first goal for the club, but John Martin's fifth goal of the season levelled the match just after the break.

Harry Wood had a goal ruled out for offside before substitute Dipo Akinyemi blasted home the winner with his first touch.

It's a third win of the season and first on the road for the Candystripes, easing pressure on manager Tiernan Lynch.

Derry leapfrog Shels and Galway United to move up to fifth in the table, 11 points behind the leaders Shamrock Rovers who they face next. The home side drop to seventh with their third straight defeat.

Shelbourne, who were searching for their first home win of the season, started on the front foot and came close to taking the lead inside the first five minutes, Paddy Barrett's header from Harry Wood's corner coming close.

However, the Candystripes did take the lead against the run of play on 20 minutes after Brandon Fleming dispossessed Jack Henry Francis high up the pitch, but his effort was deflected away for a corner.

Wood then failed to clear his lines on the edge of the area from the resulting corner, which allowed James Clarke to get a touch and direct the ball towards Cotter, who blasted beyond Wessel Speel to give Derry the lead.

Their advantage was wiped out five minutes into the second half when Kameron Ledwidge's inviting ball from the left cut out the Derry defence finding Martin inside the six-yard box to tap home the equaliser.

Shelbourne thought they had the lead on 67 minutes after Wood fired the ball in the back of the net, but the linesman's flag was already up to signal an offside.

The Candystripes did regain the lead from the next attack, profiting for some sloppy defensive play when Ledwidge's attempted clearance was deflected into the path of substitute Akinyemi, who fired into the roof of the net from close range with his first touch.

Joey O'Brien's side won a free-kick right on the edge of the area with time all but up, Wood played the set piece short to Barrett in the area, but his effort was well saved by Eddie Beach down to his left, sealing a massive three points for his team.

After four away games in a row, Tiernan Lynch's men will look to build on the win when they host the champions Shamrock Rovers at Celtic Park on Friday, 23 April.

The Candystripes will be playing their home fixtures at the home of Derry GAA while a new playing surface is laid at their Brandywell home.