Derry City 0 Sligo Rovers 1

 

SLIGO ROVERS broke Derry City hearts at the Brandywell last night when substitute, Aaron Green, netted an 88th minute winner in front of an attendance of almost 4,000.

 

 

And making matters worse for the 'Candystripes' was the fact that they squandered a first half penalty award, keeper Brendan Clarke saving Eamon Zayed's spotkick.

 

The goal which stunned the Brandywell saw fellow Sligo substitute, Raffaele Cretaro float a right wing cross in behind the Derry defence and Greene, ghosting in on the blind side, drive his first time shot high into the net from the angle.

 

The visitors opened brightly but while may have owned the ball during the opening half hour, they failed to extend Derry keeper, Gerard Doherty.

 

In fact the first clear-cut scoring chance of the match fell to the home side in the 16th minute.

 

A curling cross from the right by Gareth McGlynn saw  Eamon Zayed direct his header straight at Sligo’s debutant keeper Clarke.

 

However, on the half-hour, with Sligo continuing to press and following a John Dillon free-kick, Jason McGuinness got his head to the ball which struck the underside of the crossbar before it was whipped to safetly.

 

Three minutes later the visitors hit the woodwork again when a low shot from Danny Ventre crashed off the butt of the upright with Derry keeper Doherty, beaten.

 

In the 35th minute, Derry went close when Zayed played McGlynn in but his shot screamed across the face of goal and wide.

 

And five minutes before the break the home side were presented with a superb chance to break the deadlock when awarded a penalty.

 

McGuinness was adjudged to have clipped McGlynn when inside the area but Zayed’s spotkick was parried by Clarke before McGlynn flashed the rebound over the crossbar.

 

Sligo maintained the impetus in the early stages of the second half when Mathew Blinkhorn had a shot saved by the legs of Doherty in the 56th minute.

 

But back came Derry with Clarke pulling off a top drawer save to deny Danny Lafferty in the 68th minute, the keeper pushing the effort around his post.

 

Derry City – Doherty; McCallion, Greacen, S. McEleney, Lafferty;  P. McEleney (Harkin, 84), Molloy, Higgins (McCrudden, 89), McLaughlin; McGlynn, Zayed (McDaid, 79).

 

Sligo Rovers – Clarke; Keane, Peers, McGuinness , Davoren; Dillon (Green, 58 mins.), Ventre, Ryan, Doyle; Russell (Cretaro, 75), Blinkhorn 6 (Kirby, 83).

 

Referee – D. Hancock (Dublin).