Sligo Rovers put a huge dent in Derry City’s European hopes for next season as they came from a goal behind to win 2-1 at The Brandywell. Two second-half goals from David Cawley and Coalan McAleer cancelled out Jamie McDonagh's 25-yard strike. Gera
Sligo Rovers put a huge dent in Derry City’s European hopes for next season as they came from a goal behind to win 2-1 at The Brandywell.
Two second-half goals from David Cawley and Coalan McAleer cancelled out Jamie McDonagh's 25-yard strike. Gerard Lyttle’s side, who only managed to claim three points once in their last four games before this fixture, had the better of the opportunities early in the match, David Cawley heading just wide from a set-piece.
The warning signs were clearly there for Kenny Shiels’ and his team as they continued to scrape by evading the danger time and time again. Midway through the first-half, Rhys McCabe intercepted Ben Fisk’s pass to Aaron McEneff and with Doherty caught off his line, the Scot had an effort on goal, deflecting off the post, and luckily for Derry goalkeeper, into his arms on the rebound.
The Derry City attack hardly has a sniff in the opening half, but Dean Shiels was proving an integral part going forward and after 34 minutes the deadlock was broken. The Derry City midfielder made an insightful pass to Jamie McDonagh 25-yards from goal and the full-back managed to curl a phenomenal effort into the top corner, getting the better of Mitchell Beeney in the Sligo goals.
In the second-period, the Candy Stripes nearly doubled their advantage when McHattie slipped through Aaron Splaine but the midfielder’s shot went inches past the post.
The Bit o’Red equalised on 70 minutes when Lewis Morrison put Cawley through on goal and the Sligo player edged in front of Doherty, toe-poking into the bottom corner, to cut the deficit.
Two minutes later, the game turned on its head completely as Rovers took the lead through substitute Coalan McAleer. The Derry defence left exposed two on one and when Chris Twardek’s cross landed in the box, McAleer latched onto it, giving Sligo the lead and all three points
