SSE Airtricity League of Ireland Premier Division
Derry City 2
Duffy (51); Patching (83 PEN)
Sligo Rovers 2
Hutchinson (18); Morahan (67)
Derry City moved further behind leaders Shelbourne, after their come from behind draw against lowly Sligo Rovers.
Will Patching’s late penalty earned the Foylesiders a share of the spoils, as John Russell’s men led twice thanks to Reece Hutchinson and Niall Morahan’s goals.
The Brandywell men made four changes to their side which lost at Shamrock Rovers on Monday night, with Sam Todd, Ben Doherty, Sadou Diallo and Pat Hoban all coming into the starting line-up.
Derry should have broken the deadlock after eight minutes as Paul McMullan’s right wing cross to the back post found Hoban, who in turn headed the ball down into Michael Duffy’s path, but the winger’s close range effort was parried away by Rovers goalkeeper Ed McGinty. Rovers took a shock lead on 18 minutes in bizarre circumstances as left-back Reece Hutchinson watched his cross-cum-shot from an acute angle sail over City keeper Brian Maher’s head and into the net, much to the shock of everyone in the ground. Moments later Duffy got in behind the visitors defence, but his right footed shot from the angle, was kept out by McGinty, the Rovers goalkeeper booting the shot away for a corner. On 31 minutes Rovers’ Stefan Radosavljevic was lucky not to get sent-off after his poor challenge on Will Patching on the half-way line, but referee Rob Hennesy only cautioned the midfielder.
The Derry gaffer made a triple change at the break with McJannet, Dummigan and Patrick McEleney coming on for Ronan Boyce, Todd and Diallo, as they looked to get back into the contest.
The changes seemed to work as the home side levelled things on 51 minutes as Hoban’s over head kick pass caused problems for John Wilson and Duffy nipped to win possession, before side footing home past McGinty. Soon after Patching’s left wing corner found Patrick McEleney on the edge of the box, the midfielder’s left footed strike, which had McGinty beaten, flashed just wide.
On 61 minutes Derry went close to taking the lead, this time Patching’s left footed chipped effort from the edge of the box was gathered by a back-peddling McGinty, who gathered the ball just underneath his own crossbar.
Soon after Patching thought he had finally scored but his close range header took a deflection and flashed just wide, from the resulting corner Shane McEleney had a header tipped away by McGinty.
The visitors were gifted a second goal on 67 minutes as Maher’s terrible attempted pass only found Niall Morahan, who ran onto the pass some 40 yards from goal, before drilling the ball home from the edge of the box.
Ruaidhrí Higgins made another attacking change on 74 minutes as he brought on striker Daniel Mullen for left-back Doherty.
The Foylesiders levelled for a second time on 83 minutes from the penalty spot, as Hutchinson bundled McMullan to the ground inside the box, referee Hennessy pointed to the spot and Patching slotted home the resulting penalty. Derry thought they had won it in stoppage time as Patching’s left wing free-kick from the left found Shane McEleney and his close range header was kept out by McGinty.
Then right at the death Mullen strangely turned the ball back into the box when he was well placed inside the box,