League of Ireland/Sligo Rovers 0 Derry City 2:Derry City ran out deserving winners over battling Sligo Rovers in an action-packed game at the Showgrounds on Saturday. The visitors had to withstand a spirited second half rally by the home side before securing the points.
Derry got into their stride after a tentative opening half hour during which Sligo showed some neat touches with Jason McCartney and Raphael Cretaro going close.
Mark Farren had a penalty saved by Sligo keeper Richard Brush in the eighth minute of the first half after Gareth McGlynn was brought down. But Derry opened the scoring on 33 minutes when Barry Molloy blasted an unstoppable 35 yards cross into the roof of the Reds net.
Kevin McHugh doubled the visitors' advantage after 39 minutes, beating Brush from close range.
Derry were reduced to ten men when Dave Rodgers received a straight red card for a heavy tackle three minutes from time, ruling the former Shelbourne star out of Friday's home game against high-flying St Patrick's Athletic.
"We were missing eight players today but we have a decent squad of quality players," said pleased Derry boss Pat Fenlon.
Stephen Manson, Jason McCartney, Cretaro and substitute Seamus Coleman had the best of Sligo's scoring chances.
SLIGO ROVERS:Brush, Turner, Foy, Peers, O'Grady, McKenzie, Manson, Curran, McCartney, Cretoro, Kudozovic. Subs:Coleman for Curran (50 mins), Aisien for Manson (69 mins), Kelly for Foy (79 mins).
DERRY CITY:Jennings, McGlynn, Kelly, Oman, Molloy, Rogers, Deery, Higgins, Martyn, Farren, McHugh. Subs:Beckett for McHugh (78 mins), O'Halloran for Farren (89 mins).
Referee: D McKeon(Dublin).
