League of Ireland Premier Division
Derry City...(1) 2
McGonigle (30); Patching (94 Pen)
Sligo Rovers..(1) 1
Lafferty (40)
Derry City left it late thanks to Will Patching's stoppage time winning penalty, to see off Sligo Rovers.
Ruaidhrí Higgins' side were awarded two penalties in the closing stages and had Patching to thank for the winning strike.
City gave a debut to recent signing Paul McMullan, while fellow new arrival Daniel Mullen was on the bench.
The home side went close on eight minutes but Ben Doherty's stinging 25 yard strike, which had Rovers keeper Luke McNicholas beaten, flashed just over the crossbar.
Rovers slowly grew into the game and they came close themselves on 22 minutes but Stefan Radosavljevic's curling effort from the left-hand side of the box whistled just over.
McMullan was lively down the right and created a good opening minutes, as his centre to the back post found Jamie McGonigle, but the front-man failed to keep his header down from 10 yards.
Derry did take the lead on 30 minutes as Brandon Kavanagh's delightful through ball picked out the striker, who from 12 yards calmly side-footed home past an out-rushing McNicholas, striking from the edge of the box.
The former Cliftonville shot-stopper had to make a smart save moments later, this time doing well to tip over Michael Duffy's left-footed strike from the angle.
The lead didn't last long as former Brandywell fans favourite Daniel Lafferty marked his return home with a goal, as he ran onto Niall Morahan's pass, before his low strike from the edge of the box, nestled in the bottom corner.
Right on the stroke of half-time, Rovers' Nando Pijnaker was sent-off as he brought down Doherty on the edge of the box, but referee Neil Doyle only cautioned the big centre-back and Kavanagh's resulting free-kick was tipped over by McNicholas.
Derry made a double change just after the hour mark, with Will Patching and new signing Daniel Mullen replacing Kavanagh and McGonigle, as they went in search of a second goal.
Patching nearly made an instant impact but his long range strike, which had McNicholas beaten, whistled just past the keeper's bottom right-hand post.
The former Man City youngster went close again on 75 minutes, but after twisting and turning on the right-hand side of the Rovers penalty box, his curling strike flashed just over McNicholas' crossbar.
The woodwork denied Derry on 81 minutes as a neat passing move ended with Michael Duffy feeding Doherty, but the left-back's well-hit drive from just inside the box hit the post.
Doherty missed a golden chance to score the winner a minute later from the penalty spot. His initial shot was handled by Rovers centre-back John Mahon and referee Doyle pointed to the spot, but fortunately for the ex-Larne man, his left-footed effort was kept out by McNicholas, who dived to his left to parry it away and the keeper somehow kept out Doherty's follow up header.
Derry incredibly were awarded a second penalty deep into stoppage time as substitute Cian Kavanagh was brought down inside the box by Pijnaker. Again, Doyle pointed to the spot, and this time Patching took the ball and fired home from 12 yards.
Derry City: Maher, Boyce, Connolly (S McEleney 85), McJannet, Doherty; Diallo (P McEleney 68), Dummigan (C Kavanagh 85), B Kavanagh (Patching 64); Duffy, McGonigle (Mullen 64), McMullan.
Sligo Rovers: McNicholas, Brannefalk, Radosavljevic (Campbell 92), Pijnaker, Lafferty (Cawley 68); Bolger (Browning 78) Morahan, Liivak; Mahon, Mata, Fitzgerald.
Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin).
