Sligo Rovers 1 - 1 Derry City
Credit:
Sligo Rovers and Derry City both took their share of the spoils after playing out a 1-1 draw at The Showgrounds on Saturday afternoon. That result means that Derry are still three points clear of Sligo and have not beaten Sligo in the league this season.
These two Premier Division’s title challengers came in to this game aware that a win would bring Sligo level on points with Derry, while a win for Derry would give Sligo’s title hopes a huge blow.
The game took off in fantastic fashion and the classy Joseph Ndo gave the bit o’ red the lead with a fantastic strike on 14 minutes. Sligo began to control things a bit more and the league’s leading goal-scorer, Eamon Zayed, was getting very little past Jason McGuinness in the Sligo defence.
Sligo were subjected to a spell of serious pressure from Derry at one stage in the first-half but it was on the counter-attack that Derry equalised. A fantastic individual effort from Stephen McLaughlin was fired in to the net, with a bit of help from a deflection off Gavin Peers.
The second-half was a lot less flowing than the first but Stephen Kenny’s men had the first chance of note. Brendan Clarke spilled the ball and his former Sporting Fingal team mate could’ve given the Candystripes the lead if it wasn’t for Gavin Peers who was on the line to clear the ball.
A significant event in the first-half was the return of Mark Farren to the Derry team. He came on as a sub and received a fantastic standing ovation. Derry were struggling to deal with Joseph Ndo but it just wasn’t happening in front of goal. Derry had pretty much the same problem but the addition of Mark Farren was certainly thanked by Eamon Zayed who was having difficulty creating anything in front of Brendan Clarke.
There were no stand-out chances towards the end of the game but Sligo had a penalty claim after it looked as if Eoin Doyle had his jersey pulled inside the box. But the claims were waved away and that was that. A draw was a fair result after neither side really created too much up front.
Sligo Rovers: Brendan Clarke; Danny Ventre (Matthew Blinkhorn, 79), Iarfhlaith Davoren, Jason McGuinness, Gavin Peers; Raffaele Cretaro (John Russell, 68), Richie Ryan, Joseph Ndo, Alan Kirby (Alan Keane, 62), Aaron Greene; Eoin Doyle.
Subs not used : Ciaran Kelly, Derek Foran, Conor Powell, John Dillon.
Bookings: None.
Derry City: Gerard Doherty; Eddie McCallion, Stewart Greacen, Shane McEleney, Danny Lafferty; Kevin Deery (David McDaid, 89), Patrick McEleney (Mark Farren, 66), Barry Molloy, Ruaidhri Higgins; Eamon Zayed (Ruairi Harkin, 79), Stephen McLaughlin.
Subs not used: Eugene Ferry, Emmett Friars, Ryan McBride, Owen Morrison.
Bookings: D Lafferty (57), E McCallion (76), S McLaughlin (88).
Referee: Dave McKeon.
Attendance: 2,100.
extratime.ie Man of the Match: Joseph Ndo.
