Rovers come from behind to earn vital three points
DERRY CITY SLIGO ROVERS 1 2
SLIGO Rovers’ survival hopes were given a huge boost as they came from behind to overcome European chasing Derry City at The Brandywell on Friday night.
Kenny Shiels’ side lead at the break thanks to a wonderful strike from Jamie McDonagh, but the Bit O’Red came good in the second half and pounced on the Candystripes’ defensive errors to earn a vital three points.
Ger Lyttle made three changes to the side that was defeated 2-0 by Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght last weekend.
Lewis Morrison, Kyle Callan McFadden and Patrick McClean came in for Kris Twardek and Caolan McAleer who dropped to the bench, while Seamus Sharkey missed out through suspension.
The visitors started brightly on Friday night, with David Cawley nodding wide from a Regan Donelon corner, before Mikey Drennan was set up nicely by Cawley and Lee Lynch.
The former Shamrock Rovers forward failed to trouble Ger Doherty in the Derry goal, though.
He was again in a good position to score just minutes later, but his volley went over the bar. Rhys McCabe thought he had given Rovers the lead just before the half hour mark when his effort from 25 yards smacked the post with Doherty beaten.
Despite all their early possession, Rovers found themselves behind on 35 minutes. Jamie McDonagh, who spent the second half of last season with the Bit O’Red, hit the back of the net from long range, with Mitchell Beeney unable to get near it.
Ger Lyttle’s charges would have felt hard done by to be behind at the interval, but whatever he said to his players during the break, seemed to work.
Rovers went on the attack and Doherty was certainly the busier of the two goalkeepers, getting his fingertips to a Drennan header after 59 minutes, keeping Kenny Shiels’ men in the lead.
With time quicly running out, Lyttle shuffled his pack and brought on Raffaele Cretaro and Kris Twardek in place of Jack Keaney and Drennan.
Rovers were looking threatening and they were deserving of their equaliser on 70 minutes.
David Cawley made the most of a mix-up in the Derry defence and slotted past Ger Doherty with his fifth of the season.
It was no more than Rovers deserved, but they almost went behind again when Ally Roy spotted Beeney off his line, but the former Rovers man just sent his effort wide.
Regan Donelon was forced to clear the danger seconds later before Beeney did brilliantly to save Gavin Peers’ header.
Despite being under pressure, Rovers were dangerous on the counter and soon they were ahead.
Twardek’s cross landed in front of both McCabe and Caolan McAleer, and while the former missed, the latter made no mistake and tapped the ball into the back of the net to give Rovers a precious lead.
Cawley was everywhere and he did excellently to block an effort from Ally Roy, before Rory Hale went close for Kenny Shiels’ side again.
That result brought Rovers five points clear of Limerick, whom they will face in their next league game on Saturday week.
Rovers meet Longford on Saturday in the FAI Cup.