- Philip Morrissey
- Wed, Sep 14 2022
A first half free kick from Will Patching proved to be the difference on the night for Derry City against Sligo Rovers.
City had the better of the chances in the game but were left hanging on in the end. The result for the home side was all that mattered in an ultimately drab affair at times as it moved them to within a point off the top of the table.
Sligo Rovers were perhaps complicit in their own downfall. Their counter attacking style in recent matches has impressed but they never really got going here. It possibly signals the end of their European hopes for next season as well.
City made three changes from the win at the weekend. Patching, Jamie McGonigle and Shane McEleney came into the side for James Akintunde, Sadou Diallo and the injured Ciaran Coll. The visitors made one alteration from the win at Tolka Park; Will Fitzgerald replacing Max Mata.
Neither side were able to really get a foothold of proceedings in the early stages. Both midfields were not allowing any time to get on the ball and create anything of note. The first real chance of note came when Cameron Dummigan skipped down the left flank and past his opponent.
He sent a cross towards Ryan Graydon who was lurking inside the six-yard area. He got his header horribly out of sorts and only managed to see it bounce into the ground and over the bar.
The Candystripes were being more proactive in this period though and found themselves in front. Patching was fouled just outside the area. The attacker stepped up to blast the resulting set piece past the despairing grasp of Luke McNicholas. It seemed to have taken a deflection on the way but the keeper will have been disappointed.
Derry were on top and Sligo Rovers were struggling to create much of note. They were not helping their cause by playing so deep and inviting the home side onto them. A rare foray into the oppositin half initiated by a clever piece of play by Aidan Keena promised much but led to nothing.
Derry still continued to come forward and cause pressure on the visitors back-line. Dummigan won the ball in a challenge just outside the Bit O’ Red box. He tried his luck with an effort that seemed to be heading towards the bottom corner. McNicholas was just about able to palm it away.
The early intensity had begun to noticeably drop, and the away side began to string a couple of passes together. Michael Duffy had two chances in succession as half time approached. Both were dealt with.
The second half started in a scrappy fashion as neither side were able to keep possession for long. Rovers were more on the ball but still unable to do much with it.
The home side came back into it with neat passing inside the opposition half. A move involving Duffy, Patrick McEleney and Dummigan eventually led to a shooting chance for McGonigle just outside the area. His effort was always rising though. Patching then almost set Duffy up for an opportunity with a rehearsed corner. His precise shot into the corner was touched away by McNicholas.
Derry had a call for a penalty waved away after a corner before James Akintunde almost sealed the win. The ball came out to Duffy on the left side of the area who passed it inside to Patrick McEleney. His measured ball through the Sligo defence was into the path of the substitute bearing down on goal. He got his shot away, but McNicholas was able to get a hand to it.
Sligo tried to get back into the game as they got more of the ball. They had a shout for a penalty also as a low cross came into the area. Mark Connolly got a touch on it to clear and a knock from Max Mata for good reason. Sligo players believed he had used a hand in doing so. Nothing was given though.
Derry dropped further back and almost paid the price for it. A dangerous free kick had to be cleared before Keena set up a chance for Mata. A floated ball into the box found the substitute who chested it down before setting himself to shoot. Shane McEleney did his best to put him off and it went over.
Relief more so than joy at the end for Derry City. They move within a point of Shamrock Rovers at the top, albeit with two more games played. They come up against one another in the quarter finals of the FAI Cup this Sunday. Their next league game is away to St. Pats on Friday 30th.
Sligo Rovers do not have another game until they play at home to Shamrock Rovers on Saturday 1st of October.
Derry City: Brian Maher; Ronan Boyce, Mark Connolly, Shane McEleney, Cameron McJannet; Michael Duffy (Daniel Lafferty 90), Cameron Dummigan, Ryan Graydon (Cian Kavanagh 83), Will Patching (Joe Thomson 70); Patrick McEleney, Jamie McGonigle (James Akintunde 70).
Subs not used: Jack Lemoignan, Declan Glass, Brandon Kavanagh, Sadou Diallo, Jordan McEneff.
Booked: Jamie McGonigle (43), Cameron Dummigan (60), Patrick McEleney (66).
Sligo Rovers: Luke McNicholas; Lewis Banks, Shane Blaney, Patrick Kirk, Nando Pijnaker; Greg Bolger (Niall Morahan 63), Robbie Burton (David Cawley 90), William Fitzgerald, Adam McDonnell (Max Mata 62); Kailin Barlow, Aidan Keena, Frank Liivak.
Subs not used: Conor Walsh, Éanna Clancy, Cameron Evans, Colm Horgan.
Booked: Robbie Burton (41) , Shane Blaney (44), Lewis Banks (68).
Referee: Rob Harvey
extratime.com Player of the Match: Will Patching (Derry City)
