Derry City battle back to take a point against Sligo Rovers

Derry City had to come from behind to settle for a point against a battling Sligo Rovers side.

The Foylesiders were disappointing in the first half and trailed to Reece Hutchinson's goal, before Michael Duffy levelled things.

A goalkeeping error by Brian Maher gifted Niall Morahan Rovers' second goal, before Will Patching's 83td minute penalty earned City a share of the spoils.

The home side should have taken a seventh minute lead as Pat Hoban headed down Paul McMullan's right wing cross into Michael Duffy's path, but the winger's shot from six yards was straight at Rovers goalkeeper Ed McGinty, who parried the effort away.

With virtually their first attack Rovers took the lead on 18 minutes in somewhat bizarre circumstances as Reece Hutchinson broke clear down the left and his cross seemed to catch out everyone and it sailed over Brian Maher's head into the net.

Derry went close to equalising soon after but Duffy's drive from the right hand side of the box was kept out by McGinty, the Rovers net-minder booting the strike away for a corner.

Just after the half-hour mark Stefan Radosavljevic was fortunate not to receive a red card after a rash challenge on Will Patching on the half-way line, but referee Rob Hennessy only cautioned the midfielder.

Ruaidhri Higgins made a triple change at the break with Cameron McJannet, Cameron Dummigan and Patrick McEleney coming on for Ronan Boyce, Sam Todd and Sadou Diallo.

The changes seemed to work as the home side levelled things on 51 minutes as Hoban's over head kick pass caused problems for John Wilson and Duffy nipped to win possession, before side footing home past McGinty.

With their tails up Derry went close to scoring a second moments later as Patching's left wing corner found Patrick