DERRY City’s Will Patching hopes his winning penalty against Sligo Rovers is the springboard for him to finish the season on a high.
The 24-year-old calmly fired home City’s 95th minute penalty to secure a massive three points on Friday night and reignite their title charge.
Derry’s late win over the Bit O’Red at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium combined with leaders Shamrock Rovers drawing at Drogheda United, means Ruaidhrí Higgins’s side now sit four points behind the champions and Patching hopes they can have a strong finish.
The Stockport native, who has been out for a number of weeks, admitted he was itching to get on against John Russell’s side and was pleased to play his part in the win.
“The last few weeks I have been so driven to get back and I couldn’t wait to get back,” he confirmed.
“To be honest all day I was just thinking about coming on and scoring, so thankfully that happened and I enjoyed it when I came on.
“Hopefully I’m peaking at the right time of the season, we still have a lot to play for, starting with Europe this week and even the league now, especially with how the results went tonight (Friday), we’re within touching distance and with all the boys coming back we're going to get stronger and we can still have a right go at it.”
WILL PATCHING
— Derry City FC (@derrycityfc) July 7, 2023
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Patching along with skipper Patrick McEleney and winger Michael Duffy all returned on Friday evening, while new signings Paul McMullan and Daniel Mullen were also given their debut in the encounter, so the squad is certainly getting stronger with just 11 league games remaining while the Candystripes will turn their attention to European competition this week as they travel to the Faroe Islands to take on HB Torshavn in the first qualifying round of the Europa Conference League.
“We’re all coming back at a good time as there’s a lot to play for in the coming weeks,” added the former Manchester City youth team player.
“We’ve Europe this week, the league and the FAI Cup is starting soon, so to get all the injured boys back now. It's not a bad time to come back at all.
“It was a tough match but we got there in the end and all the hard work that I’ve put in over the last couple of months, getting fit, doing all my rehab paid off and hopefully I’m back now.
“Being out injured is something I’ve never experienced before and I can see why it’s so frustrating for the lads like Jackie (Ciaron Harkin), who have been out longer, I really feel for him, because it’s tough.
“So from a personal point of view I’m just happy to be back and hopefully I can help the team now.”
For Higgins he was delighted his midfielder returned with a match winning penalty.
"He was brilliant," stated the Derry gaffer. "He gave the ball away actually the first time he got it but he shook it off and he really had a big say in the end result.
"He's taken a lot of stick, he's listened to a lot of nonsense and he showed real courage deep into added time to step up and put it away. His impact in the game was brilliant and we know what a talent he is because when you have a fit and healthy and happy Will Patching, he's a top player and he just needs to kick on and drive on but it's great to see a smile back on his face.
"Obviously his form dropped off because of that injury but he's been in great spirits these past few weeks. There's a smile back in his face. You can see it in training. I thought he was absolutely brilliant when he came on.
"He had one shot with his left foot, one with his right. He stepped up for the penalty and showed nerves of steel to be fair to him, deep into injury time and it'll be a great lift for him and for us."
Meanwhile, City winger Ryan Graydon is expected to seal a move to Scott Brown's Fleetwood Town later this week, after the Foylesiders agreed a six-figure fee for him.
