Nathan's Gonna Stop Us Now!

NATHAN Boyle is determined to be the man Kenny Shiels turns to if the injury to Rory Patterson is as bad as first feared.

- Gary Ferry

With Mikhail Kennedy on board, and Ronan Curtis set to feature more centrally, it was always going to be a fight for Boyle to fall in alongside automatic-starter Patterson.

The 22-year old would have expected a place on the bench at Dalymount Park on Friday night; he’s used to that, having made 19 appearances as a substitute during last year’s campaign. But an early injury to Patterson gave Boyle an unexpected opportunity, and to say he grasped that opportunity with both hands would be an understatement.

Boyle’s first goal was simple, a composed finish as the Bohs defence lost their heads completely, but his second is a definite ‘Goal of the Month’ contender.

A kick out from Gerard Doherty left Boyle one-on-one with Lorcan Fitzgerald on half way, and from that moment it was all about desire and passion to win the ball. Boyle held off the defender, charged into the box and fired the ball expertly through the legs of Shane Supple. It was his tenth goal for Derry City, it was ar guably his best so far, and it was a reminder to Kenny Shiels that all is not lost if the injury to Patterson proves to be a long term problem.

Boyle was just one positive from a brilliant night for Derry City as they started the campaign with a facile victory against a very disjointed Bohemians’ side.

Keith Long will be aghast at his players, especially for their defensive work, and even he, perhaps not publicly, will admit that his team were flattered by the 4-1 scoreline.

As well as the goals from Aaron McEneff, Lukas Schubert and Boyle, Derry missed great chances although Ronan Curtis and Dean Jarvis. The last action of the game also saw Boyle go through for his hat trick, only to be denied by Supple. It is no exaggeration to suggest that the Candy Stripes could have left Dalymount with seven goals.