Derry City 1 Sligo Rovers 1
The performance of a guest referee from the Irish League was the main talking point at the Brandywell last night. Overall, it could be said that Arnold Hunter did not endear himself to the home crowd.
The Fermanagh-based official not only produced a controversial straight red card to Derry winger Mark Timlin, but he also awarded Sligo a contentious penalty, whichAlan Keane smashed off the crossbar in the second half.
However, the story of the match centred on two second-half minutes when both sides netted their goals.
Five minutes after the break the visitors broke the deadlock following a blunder by Derry at the back.
Centre back Shane McEleney appeared to be leaving the ball for goalkeeper Shaun Patton to collect, but he failed to reckon for Sander Puri, who nipped in to steal it and score into an empty net.
Sligo’s lead lasted just 60 seconds, the home side levelling matters when Sean Clucas produced a superb chip to find the far corner of the Sligo net. It was Clucas’s first strike Derry.
Derry’s hopes were dealt a severe blow in the 68th minute when winger Timlin was shown a straight red card for a tackle on Kevin Devaney. The penalty came 10 minutes later but Derry were to survive and escape with a point.
DERRY CITY: Patton, Kelly, S McEleney, Barry, Jarvis; Clucas, Sharkey (P McEleney, half-time), Timlin, Lowry, McNamee, Morrison (Curran, 75 mins).
SLIGO ROVERS: Brush, Keane, Peers, Folan, Ledwith, Beattie, McManus, Wearen, Devaney (Nielsen, 69 mins), Puri, Corcoran. Referee: A Hunter (Fermanagh)
