Derry City throw away lead to lose at Sligo Rovers

Sligo Rovers 2

Derry City 1

Derry City fell to yet another defeat at the Showgrounds as Ellis Chapman’s second half double won the game for Sligo Rovers.

It is now just two points from six visits to the Showgrounds for Ruaidhri Higgins and his players, who took the lead early in the second half through Paul McMullan before being undone by two goals from Chapman.

The only consolation for Higgins and his players is that Shelbourne dropped two points at Drogheda, although Damien Duff's team do extend their lead at the top to three points. 

The Candystripes had a great chance to take an early lead just 12 minutes in when Pat Hoban cleverly played the ball in for Daniel Kelly who raced clear in behind. Kelly, who scored his first goal for the club just last week, had no support so had no choice but to go for goal from a tight angle and Ed McGinty saved.

The visitors were in control but they had to wait until the half hour mark before they troubled the Sligo defence again. Shane McEleney found Adam O’Reilly in space 25 yards from goal and the midfielder immediately spotted the run of Paul McMullan in the middle, but again McGinty was in the way to save Sligo, coming off his line to stop the winger scoring his third goal of the season.

Derry City had the best of what few chances there were in the first half and they almost took the lead spectacularly right on half time when Cameron Dummigan’s cross sat up for Pat Hoban, who tried an overhead kick but was just off target.

Sligo Rovers began the second half with much more intent, but it was Derry City who broke the deadlock just nine minutes on. Daniel Kelly did superbly to create the chance which was finished brilliantly by Paul McMullan, who curled in his third goal of the season.

That lead lasted just a matter of minutes however as Sadou Diallo needlessly challenged Will Fitzgerald in the City penalty area and mis-timed tackle gave referee Damien McGraith an easy decision as he pointed to the penalty spot. Ellis Chapman stepped up to calmly send Brian Maher the wrong way to make it 1-1.

Sligo grew in confidence as the game entered its latter stages and just five minutes from time they might well have nicked it when Fitzgerald and Hutchinson combined on the left before the latter crossed for Barlow, who came closer with an effort which just cleared the crossbar.

But it was the home side who snatched all three points when Chapman picked up the ball in midfield and went past Shane McEleney and Ben Doherty with ease, before sidestepping Mark Connolly and poking the ball past Maher into the net.

In a dramatic end to the game, JR Wilson was red carded in added time and McGinty saved well from both Pat Hoban and Colm Whelan as Sligo held on.

Teams

Sligo Rovers: McGinty, Wilson, Hutchinson, Chapman, Fitzgerald, Morahan, Waweru (Elding 83’), Mallon (Barlow 66’), Denham. Malley, Pijnaker.

Derry City: Maher, Doherty, S McEleney, Connolly, Dummigan, O’Reilly, Diallo (Mullen 74’), Patching, McMullan (Whelan 85’), Kelly (Duffy 74’), Hoban.

Referee: Damien McGraith.