HIGH-SCORING midfielder, Peter Hutton, was Derry City's hero at the Showgrounds on Saturday night when he grabbed the only goal of the game in a tense clash with rivals, Sligo Rovers.

Hutton's ninth goal of the season in the third minute was enough to secure a priceless victory for Derry, but they had to withstand some frantic Sligo pressure during a thrilling second half before stretching their lead at the top of the premier division.

Sligo were very much the authors of their own misfortune as they were punished for engaging in an exercise of ball watching as early as the third minute. When Tom Mohan swung over a cross from the right, the Sligo defence stood appealing for offside and allowed Liam Coyle to get a vital touch which steered the ball into the path of Hutton, who crashed it to the net.

Sligo, to their credit, came forward with increasing urgency as the half wore on and only a goal line intervention by their former skipper, Gavin Dykes, prevented Chris Twiddy from forcing home an equaliser through a crowded goalmouth after 32 minutes.