- Odhrán Crumley
- Sat, Feb 24 2018
Second-half strikes from Adam Morgan and Ally Roy ensured Sligo Rovers picked up their first win of the 2018 league campaign, beating Derry City 2-1 at a bitterly cold Showgrounds.
Both sides looked to bounce back from opening days defeats, Sligo having lost to Limerick while Waterford overcame Derry in the opening round of fixtures.
It was the visitors who had the first opportunity of the game a free kick 40 yards from goal broke to the feet of Ronan Curtis who could only strike high over the bar.
Sligo held a strong wind advantage for the opening half and used to with relative success. A high ball over the top from Seamus Sharkey found Caolan McAleer, but his effort tailed to the right and wide.
McAleer really should have made it 1-0 in the fourth minute when Ally Roy’s cross flashed invitingly towards the penalty spot. Unfortunately for the home side McAleer ducked under the ball – a real let off for Derry.
The ball changed feet an awful lot in the opening exchanges with neither side able to retain any sustained possession. Derry appeared very narrow and nervy, the pace of Sligo's break and Adam Morgan causing real problems.
City first threatened in the tenth minute as fast feet from Ronan Hale almost saw him play in Darren Cole only for Rhys McCabe to intercept at the vital moment.
That over the top ball seemed to be playing havoc with the visiting centre half pairing of Cole and Armin Aganovic, both men leaving a gap for McCabe to clip the ball into the box. Fortunately for Cole, he got back in time to intervene.
There was 18 minutes on the clock when the Brandywell men had a real chance to take the lead. An excellent ball from Ben Doherty found Ronan Curtis who brilliantly cut down the left flank.
Curtis pulled the ball back towards to the run of Rory Hale, the latter’s effort cannoning back off the keeper from point-blank range.
Gerard Lyttle’s men continued to press, winning corner after corner without getting a lead they really deserved.
In a frantic end to the half both teams had chances, with Ronan Hale shooting across Mitchell Beeney forcing the keeper to save expertly at full stretch.
From the very next attack McCabe opened up the City defence once again, this time his curling effort forced Doherty into making a save.
The Brandywell side lost Conor McDermott to injury early in the second half and they failed to get into any rhythm.
Defending was becoming last ditch as Cole made an inch-perfect tackle to deny McAleer, before Rory Hale blocked bravely on the goal line to deny David Cawley from all of six yards.
Derry replied just after the hour mark with an Aaron McEneff shot that caused Beeney no real problems.
Adam Morgan finally broke the deadlock in the 74th minute. A corner kick was fired into the front post and the Derry defence failed to deal with it, allowing Morgan to stab home.
Neither side threatened after as the game had a relative lull before Roy put the game beyond doubt seven minutes from time.
One square ball caught the Derry defence out allowing Roy to get in behind and shoot past the onrushing Doherty into the net.
Curtis got one back for the Candystripes as the clock stuck ninety. Kenny Shields’ men pushed desperately for an equaliser in the four minutes of added time to no avail as the home side picked up their first win of the season.
Sligo Rovers: Mitchell Beeney, Gary Boylan, Eduardo Pincelli, Kyle Callan-McFadden, Seamus Sharkey, Rhys McCabe, Adam Morgan (Greg Moorhouse 83), Ally Roy, Patrick McClean, Caolan McAleer (Craig Roddan 85), David Cawley.
Subs not used: Micheál Schlingermann (gk), Calum Waters, Adam Wixted, Jack Keaney, Lewis Morrison.
Booked: Adam Morgan (46), Patrick McClean (52).
Derry City: Ger Doherty, Conor McDermott (Jamie McDonagh 60), Armin Aganovic, Aaron McEneff, Ronan Curtis, Rory Hale (Eoin Toal 77), Rory Patterson, Darren Cole, Ben Doherty, Ronan Hale, Nicky Low.
Subs Not Used: Eric Grimes (gk), Dapo Kayode, Evan Tweed, Chris Turner, Niall Logue.
Booked: Nicky Low (30), Darren Cole (71).
Referee: Paul McLaughlin.
Attendance: 2,319 (official).
ExtraTime.ie Player of the Match: Caolan McAleer (Sligo Rovers).
