League Report: Sligo Rovers 0 - 2 Derry City

Odhrán Crumley reports from the Showgrounds

Derry City made it five wins on the bounce, securing a 2-0 win over Sligo Rovers with a very composed performance at the Showgrounds.

Goals from Rory Patterson and Ronan Hale gave Kenny Shiels’ men their fifth league win of the season.

Early on Sligo adapted a direct approach with Kyle Callan-McFadden sending a high ball over the top in an attempt to play Adam Morgan in.

Derry then began to put their mark on the game, getting into their footballing rhythm.

Aaron McEneff created the first half chance of the game, crossing from the right, but Ronan Curtis couldn’t steer his header on target.

Moments later McEneff had a shot at goal himself from 30 yards but the ball was deflected away for a corner, which amounted to nothing.

It was all Derry at this stage as Patterson skilfully played in Curtis, but Callan-McFadden got across to put in an excellent sliding tackle to avert the danger.

Once again the visitors threatened with a rare high ball leaving Ronan Hale in on goal but a brief moment of hesitance saw the chance amount to nothing.

Curtis was played in one on one with the keeper but Michael Schlingermann was up to the task making a wonderful save.

The rebound fell to McEneff on the edge of the box but he was brought down by Rhys McCabe.

Patterson stepped up to take the free kick and his effort took a deflection on its way into the net, wrong footing the keeper in the process.

Just before the break Morgan got involved for the home side. His first effort with using his left foot from 25 yards flew to the right and wide.

Soon after, Morgan appeared to get in behind the Derry back four only for Conor McDermott to get across and reclaim possession before showing real composure to play out from the back.

The second half started relatively slowly with neither side creating anything.

Derry held the vast majority of possession, knocking the ball around the middle sector of the pitch.

As the game approached the hour mark Gerard Lyttle made the drastic switch of using all three substitutes at the one go: Raffaele Cretaro, Seamus Sharkey and Eduardo Pincelli all took to the field.

Curtis was lively on the left wing beating his man before firing a front post effort that could only be pushed over the top by Schlingermann.

Aaron McEneff attempted to play the ball towards the edge of the box only to be cut out.

Sligo went on the break through Raffaele Cretaro only for Rory Hale to make a vital tackle to stop the momentum as Greg Moorehouse’s through ball rolled into the hands of Gerard Doherty.

16 minutes from time, Ronan Hale doubled his team’s advantage, shooting low and hard towards the bottom left corner of the net.

The ball flew underneath the diving Schlingermann and into the bottom corner of the net.

The Bit o’ Red went in desperate search of something to get themselves back into the game.

However most efforts were stopped by Gavin Peers, who was putting in a mammoth display on his debut in the heart of defence.

Gary Boylan and Seamus Sharkey had shots from distance that were never going to trouble Doherty.

With the final action of the game McEneff sent a free kick from 25 yards over the bar.

Paul McLaughlin’s whistle soon brought the game to an end, confirming a fifth win in a row for Derry City as they ran out 2-0 winners.

Sligo Rovers: Michael Schlingermann; Gary Boylan, Kyle Callan-McFadden (Seamus Sharkey 59), Patrick McClean, Calum Waters; David Crawley, Rhys McCabe, Ally Roy (Eduardo Pincelli 59), Caolan McAleer; Adam Morgan (Raffaele Cretaro 59), Greg Moorehouse.

Subs not used: Mitchell Beeney (gk), Regan Donelon, Adam Wixted, Jack Keaney.

Booked: Rhys McCabe (16), Ally Roy (33), Calum Waters (81), Eduardo Pincelli (92).

Derry City: Gerard Doherty, Conor McDermott, Aaron McEneff, Rory Hale, Ronan Curtis (David Hopkirk 81), Rory Patterson (John Cofie 88), Gavin Peers, Eoin Toal, Ronan Hale (Jamie McDonagh 75), Jack Doyle, Nicky Low.

Subs not used: Eric Grimes (gk), Ben Doherty, Scott Whiteside, Niall Logue.

Booked: Conor McDermott (33), Gavin Peers (43), Rory Patterson (43), Ronan Curtis (72).

Referee: Paul McLaughlin.

Attendance: 1,827 (official).

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Gavin Peers (Derry City).