Derry City’s title hopes took another battering as ten-men Sligo Rovers deservedly secured a share of the spoils at the Ryan McBride Brandywell.
The Candy Stripes, who only managed to pick up two points from a possible six on offer over the weekend and incredibly still sit two points behind leaders Shelbourne.
Derry were disappointing for the majority of the first half and once again that dreadful opening 45 minutes proved to be their downfall, as they have now only secured one league win in nine games.
City had strong claims for a penalty on 13 minutes as Simon Power seemed to push Ronan Boyce in the back inside the box, just as the defender was about to shoot, after the right back had got in behind the Rovers back-line, but referee Paul Norton waved away their appeals.
Rovers took the lead in stunning fashion just after the half-hour mark as Connor Malley’s 25-yard piledriver from the right-hand side of the box, flew across Brian Maher and into the bottom left-hand corner.
Derry suffered an injury set-back minutes later as Pat Hoban limped to the bench and had to be replaced by Daniel Mullen.
The home supporters rightfully booed their team off the pitch at half-time, as once again the Foylesiders failed to turn up in the first half and certainly weren’t playing like a team knowing a victory would move them into pole position.
Derry gaffer Ruaidhrí Higgins made a triple change at the break with skipper Patrick McEleney, Colm Whelan and Jacob Davenport replacing Andre Wisdom, Will Patching and Adam O’Reilly, as they tried to get back into the encounter.
The home side did equalise in somewhat fortunate circumstances on 51 minutes as a quick counter-attack down the right ended with Paul McMullan’s centre into the six-yard box was turned into his own net by Reece Hutchinson, the full-back looping the ball over the out-rushing Ed McGinty.
With their tails up Derry went close to taking the lead moments later as Boyce’s right wing cut-back found Whelan, but his low drive from 10 yards was saved by a diving McGinty.
John Russell’s side continued to push forward and looked a threat on the counter-attack and they went close to regaining the lead on 65 minutes but Ellis Chapman’s close-range shot hit the side-netting, after Will Fitzgerald’s right-wing cross had created the opening.
Soon after Derry missed a glorious chance to take the lead as McMullan nipped in to win possession inside the box, after jinking around a few challenges, his close-range side-footed shot was kept out by McGinty.
Rovers were reduced to ten men on 75 minutes as Luke Pearce was shown a second yellow card after he put in a late challenge on Maher.
The ten men missed a glorious chance to get back in front on 82 minutes as substitute Owen Elding set up Fitzgerald, but the former Brandywell fan-favourite blazed over when well placed inside the box.
McGinty had to make a top save on 89 minutes as the Rovers goalkeeper got down low to keep out Whelan’s back-post header after Duffy’s left-wing free-kick had picked out the ex-Republic of Ireland U21 international.
Derry’s night was summed up on 92 minutes as another Duffy centre found the left found Sean Robertson at the back post, but the unmarked substitute blazed over with the goal at his mercy.
