League Report: Sligo Rovers 0 - 0 Derry City

 

In a pulsating first-half, it was Sligo Rovers who had the best chances, yet the first chance of the game fell to the visitors when Niclas Vemmelund headed a Derry free-kick over the bar after goalkeeper Micheal Schlingermann came out to collect and missed it.

 

After ten minutes it was the turn of Sligo to attack the Derry backline. Liam Martin dispossessed Vemmelund and played it into Raffaele Cretaro, but he took too many touches and the ball ended up in goalkeeper Ger Dohertys hands.

 

As the half progressed both Gavin Peers and Rory Patterson had shots from distance which didn't trouble either goalkeeper. 

 

On 25 minutes Martin again was causing the Derry defence problems when his delivery into the penalty area caused confusion, but a relieved Doherty ended up with the ball in his hands. 

 

On 35 minutes Sligo had their best chance of the game when Kieran Sadlier broke into the Derry box. His pass was picked up by Martin but Doherty saved. The rebound fell to the feet of Sadlier but Doherty was on hand to save again.

 

Derry’s only shot on target in the first-half came after McNamee fired from the edge of the box on 41 minutes, an effort which was easily saved by Schlingermann.

 

Sligo came out fighting in the second-half as Sadlier shot over with just seconds on the clock.

 

On 49 minutes a cross from Cretaro on the right-hand side was met by Sadlier but his header was easily saved by Doherty.

 

Derry were next to attack and on 61 minutes Ronan Curtis had a shot across the box which was met by Vemmelund who got his head to it but Jimmy Keohane cleared it off the line.

 

Four minutes later another Martin cross was cleared by McNamee as Sadlier was lurking behind him. A minute later Sadlier again was on the attack as he easily beat Lucas Schubert, but his cross was easily caught by Doherty. 

 

On 79 minutes Sligo had the best chance of the game. After a bit of ping-pong in the Derry box, Cretaro, Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, Gary Boylan and John Russell all had half-chances blocked before the ball was eventually cleared for a Sligo corner. 

 

Nine minutes later Sadlier again had a chance but his shot was just inches wide with Doherty beaten. Then, as the game drew to a close, Schubert had a shot on goal which was easily saved by Schlingermann.

 

Tonight's draw leaves Derry in third place, five ahead of Shamrock Rovers and two points behind Cork City, although the Leesiders have three games in hand. Sligo should have come away with all three points and manager Dave Robertson will be disappointed his side didn't leapfrog fifth place Galway who take on Longford Town in the City Calling Stadium on Saturday.

 

Next up for Derry is the EA Sports Cup semi-final against Limerick at the Brandywell on Monday while Sligo make the long journey to Wexford Youths next weekend.

 

 

Sligo Rovers: Micheal Schlingermann, Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, Jimmy Keohane, Gavin Peers, Gary Boylan, Daniel Kearns, Craig Rodden, John Russell, Kieran Sadlier, Liam Martin, Raffaele Cretaro.

Subs Not Used: Ciaran Nugent, Chris Lyons, Phil Roberts, Michael Leahy, Mikey Place, Gary Armstrong, Paul Doyle.

Yellow cards: Adebayo-Rowling (46).

 

Derry City: Ger Doherty, Niclas Vemmelund, Dean Jarvis, Aaron Mc Eniff, Ryan McBride, Barry McNamee, Rory Patterson, Patrick McClean (Nathan Boyle 12), Conor Mc Cormack, Ronan Curtis (Josh Daniels 86), Lucas Schubert

Subs Not Used: Shaun Patton, Harry Monaghan, Jordan Allen, Keith Ward, Aaron Barry.

 

 

Attendance: 1694.

Referee: Robert Rogers.

Extratime Man of the Match: Kieran Sadlier.