Derry City brought Premier Division new boys, Bray Wanderers, back to earth with an almighty bang at the Brandywell yesterday as Felix Healy's side totally outclassed Bray, even though Wanderers had actually broken the deadlock.
Following opening league defeats by St. Patrick's Athletic and Cork City, Derry took their revenge on Bray, giving a performance admired by Pat Devlin afterwards.
"We've no complaints. We were destroyed and while we've played only three games so far, Derry are clearly the best side we've come up against," he said.
But it was Bray who got off to the best possible start when Alan Smith hammered a 25-yard shot home after only 43 seconds. But that goal served to shock Felix Healy's side into action and by the time 13 minutes had elapsed, Bray were 3-1 in arrears and in serious difficulty.
Smith's early breakthrough silenced the Brandywell faithful but Derry debutante, 19 years old Eddie McCallion, restored equality in the 6th minute when his cross-cum-shot from the right surprised Alan Kane, giving the Bray 'keeper no chance.
Worse was to follow as the home side began to take control. Another McCallion cross was powerfully headed home by striker Michael McHugh, in the 12th minute - his first goal for his new club.
And when Gary Beckett took the ball off the toe of a Bray defender, one minute later, Sean Hargan pounced to drive his firsttime shot into the net.
Even before Derry scored their fourth goal, Joe Lynch and Colm Tresson each hacked the ball off the Bray goal-line, before Floyd Gilmore struck in the 42nd minute following a fluent move involving McHugh and the accomplished Liam Coyle.
Referee John Feighrey sustained a back injury during the first period, with the result that one of his assistants, Frank Cassidy, deputised for the remainder of the game.
And while Derry were totally dominant, Kane did well to deny Garry Beckett in the 68th minute before Liam Coyle scored yet another of his wonder goals to end the rout with two minutes remaining.
Derry's star striker left two defenders in his wake before superbly curling a right-foot shot high into the top corner, giving Kane absolutely no chance from 18 yards.
"We scored first and then sat back, and they punished us for that. To be fair, I thought we did okay during the second half but then Liam Coyle spoiled the party with that wonderful goal," concluded Devlin.
Derry City - O'Down; McCallion, Curran, Gauld, Kelly; Beckett, Hegarty, Hargan Gilmore, L. Coyle, McHugh. Subs: McCaul for Gilmore (56 mins), Doherty for McCallion (82 mins), R. Coyle for Hegarty (84 mins).
Bray Wanders - Kane; Lynch, Tresson, McKeever, O'Connor, P. O'Brien, Smith, Fox, Keogh; Byrne, Ryan. Subs: K. O'Brien for Byrne (half-time), Parsons for McKeever (62 mins), Connolly for O'Connor (84 mins).
Referee: John Feighrey (Dublin).
