DERRY CITY are climbing the rungs on the Premier Division ladder but could be set to lose star play-maker Will Patching.
Patching brought his tally for the season to six with a brace — one a penalty and the winner a superbly-struck free — as the Candystripes beat Finn Harps 2-1 in Friday’s north-west derby in Ballybofey.
In February, City announced that Patching had arrived on loan from Dundalk, “with the option to become a permanent signing”.
But with Vinny Perth back in the Oriel Park hotseat, the player’s future at the Brandywell is up in the air.
City boss Ruaidhrí Higgins would only say: “He’s been a brilliant player here.
“His loan ends soon, but we will get another game with him and we will talk about that after Monday.”
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Regarding the match-winning free against Harps, Higgins said: “It was a piece of magic, the skill to win the free-kick initially was top class.
“The free itself was an amazing piece of skill.”
And Ollie Horgan was also singing the praises of the former Manchester City Academy player.
The Finn Harps boss said: “He was the best player on the pitch and deserved to be on the winning side.”
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City are seven games unbeaten and are above their neighbours for the first time this season.
Higgins added: “Everyone to a man gave absolutely everything to get the three points.”
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However, Horgan was not happy with the awarding of the penalty that resulted in Patching’s opener.
He said: “Let’s call a spade a spade. If that’s a penalty, there will be ten penalties in every game.
“Derry defended very well and we didn’t defend as well as them. That’s why they won and well done to them.”
Harps’ Johnny Dunleavy hobbled off in the second half.