REPORT: Sligo Rovers 3-0 Derry City

Sligo recorded a massive home win at a wet and windy Showgrounds, as they exploited harsh weather conditions to comfortably beat Derry City to give their survival chances the ultimate boost ahead of the final day of the season.

Sligo had the perfect start, with a major assist from the weather conditions as Rhys McCabe's corner delivery on the left sailed gracefully into the net after just 7 minutes. The wind had a major part in the goal, and this was to set the tone for the rest of the game.

Neither side could get the ball on the ground to string any sequence of passes together, and the game was largely defined by long balls forward from the home side. Derry struggled to get the ball out of their own half, largely due to Sligo applying the pressure, with the aid of the wind behind their backs.

This pattern continued throughout the half, and Sligo doubled their lead after 40 minutes. Tobi Adebayo-Rowling had a long range effort parried by Derry goalkeeper Ger Doherty, and Vinny Faherty was the fastest to react to divert the ball into the net to double Sligo's lead before half time. Derry sought to exploit the weather conditions in the second half, with several long balls forward.

Two headers on goal from Rory Patterson from wide deliveries were both held well by Shaun Patton in the Sligo goal, with the home side resolutely defending the lead in the unrelenting wind and rain.

The game passed by without much incident until the 89th minute, as Craig Roddan caught Darren Cole in the Derry defence, and calmly finished to wrap up the points for Sligo, settling all remaining nerves for the home fans.

The game finished 3-0, and the home fans were sent home clearly delighted with the result, which means Sligo only need a point against already relegated Drogheda United on the final day of the season.