FINN HARPS inability to win their home matches was again evident when they lost to local rivals Derry City. The result means that Gavin Dykes team have won just three out of fifteen league matches at Finn Park this season, a sequence of results which does not bode well in the club's ongoing battle for Premier Division survival.

With basement club Drogheda United claiming their first league victory since last November at the weekend, albeit against fellow strugglers Waterford United, Harps find themselves sucked deeper into the relegation dog fight.

However, as Sligo Rovers and Galway United also failed to pick up any points last weekend, Harps destiny is still very much in their own hands. The Ballybofey club have five matches to play, including games against the four teams immediately above and below them in the table, but these are nervous times around Finn Park.

Boasting just one league success over Derry City since their return to senior football in 1985 coupled with their poor league form, the Harps players were somewhat tense during the opening exchanges.

The home side made one change to the side which shared the points in Belfield a week earlier with Dykes returning to the starting line-up in place of the suspended Jonathan Minnock.The visitors were also forced to make one unscheduled change to their starting line up with James Quigley coming into the middle of the field in place of Eamon Doherty who injured his achilles in the warm up.

Indeed, such was the poor state of the playing surface that both managers chose to comment on it during the after match interviews. Derry started the brighter team with Peter Hutton and Darren Kelly particularly effective at the heart of their defence.

A Gary Beckett free kick was flicked on by Paul Hegarty on 14 minutes but Kelly poked a right foot shot wide of its intended target from six yards.At the other end of the pitch a rare mistake from Hutton gave James Mulligan a half chance but the striker's effort from the edge of the penalty area lacked the necessary power or direction to threaten David Platt's goal.

Johnny Kenny and Fergal Harkin combined to create another opening for Mulligan on 21 minutes but on this occasion his shot was high and wide of its intended target.The visitors forced a number of corners in quick succession midway through the half but apart from a Beckett shot, blocked by Tom Mohan, and a long range Sean Hargan shot parried to safety by Gavin Cullen they had little to show for their efforts.

Harps started the second half well and they should have opened the scoring on 52 minutes when Harkin crossed to the unmarked Patrick McGrenaghan eight yards from goal but he badly miscued his left foot volley with only Platt to beat.

Derry opened the scoring on 77 minutes when Liam Coyle produced a wonderful chipped finish from the edge of the penalty area which left Cullen rooted to the ground.Harps responded with a goal of their own within sixty seconds when Fergal Harkin slotted home from 12 yards after Mulligan's shot had rebounded into his path.

Substitute Perry Taylor, who replaced the hard working Darren McCaul seven minutes from time, netted the winning goal with his first touch of the match. The on loan Tranmere Rovers striker latched onto a Coyle flick to smash an unstoppable left foot drive into the top corner of Cullen's net from 25 yards.

The goal was cruel luck on a Harps team who had more than matched their more illustrious opponents throughout but a quick look at the statistics showed that Derry keeper David Platt had precious little to do apart from pick the ball out of the net.

Harps will have to be more adventurous in their approach against Drogheda United tonight (Friday) or they will find themselves courting more trouble.The corresponding 2-3 defeat at United Park earlier in the season signalled the end of Charlie McGeever's reign as team manager.

With just two victories in fourteen away matches this season however the omens are not good this weekend as Harps reach the most crucial stage of the season.

FINN HARPS: Cullen, Kenny, Bradley, Boyle, Dykes, Tierney, Mohan, McGrenaghan, Mulligan, Turner, Harkin.
DERRY CITY: Platt, McCallion, Hargan, Hutton, Kelly, Quigley, McCaul, Hegarty, Coyle, Beckett, McIvor. Subs: McLaughlin for McIvor (63 mins), Taylor for McCaul (83 mins) and McCreadie for Quigley (90 mins).
REFEREE: Mr J Feighery (Dublin).