Sport

Derry hold the leaders

Sligo Rovers 1 Derry City 1: DERRY CITY disrupted Sligo’s momentum as leaders with a battling performance in a mediocre game…

Sat Apr 14 2012 - 01:00

Sligo Rovers 1 Derry City 1:DERRY CITY disrupted Sligo's momentum as leaders with a battling performance in a mediocre game at the Showgrounds last night.

A crowd of 2,488 were treated to a tense finish as both sides battled for a match-winning goal but solid defending by the Candystripes and superb goalkeeping by Gerard Doherty denied the table -toppers.

Iarflaith Davoren had a shot held by Doherty in the third minute and the goalkeeper was in action again two minutes later, punching the ball clear from a Joseph Ndo free kick.

Mark Farren went close for the visitors after a clever ball in by Patrick McEleney on eight minutes and Romuald Boco blazed a shot over the bar at the other end following a quick break upfield.

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Sligo went ahead after 24 minutes when top marksman Danny North whipped the ball past Doherty and just inside the post.

Derry drew level in the 35th minute after the elusive Simon Madden was brought down by Davoren; McDaid made no mistake with a well-struck penalty to put the game back in the melting pot.

Derry skipper Kevin Deery struck the crossbar with a rasping shot three minutes into the second half as Declan Devine’s side went in search of a lead goal.

Barry Molloy threatened to unhinge the Sligo defence after 56 minutes as the visitors found space on the edge of the hosts’ box.

Sligo substitute Ross Gaynor ballooned the ball over the City bar from a free kick just outside the box in the 68th minute.

Sligo enjoyed a lot of possession as the second half progressed but solid defending by the visitors and a vital interception by Eddie McCallion in the 75th minute kept Sligo at bay.

Substitute Rory Patterson went close for the visitors after 83 minutes but Ian Baraclough’s side survived

Sligo will be happy to have preserved their unbeaten League run but Derry , who failed to beat their hosts in four league meetings last season, will be wondering what will it take to get one over on the home side.

Mark Quigley was sprung from the Sligo bench in the second half after serving a six -match suspension.

SLIGO ROVERS: Rogers; Davoren, Peers, McGuinness, Keane, Ventre, Lynch, Ndo, Boco, Cretaro, North. Subs: Gaynor for Ventre (64 mins), Quigley for Boco (80 mins), Dillon for Ndo (81 mins).

DERRY CITY: Doherty; McCallion, McCaffery, Molloy. Deery, McDaid, McBride, McLaughlin, Madden, Farren, McEleney. Subs: Patterson for McEleney (71 mins), McNamee for Patterson (93 mins).

Referee: R Winter (Dublin).