Sligo Rovers 0 Derry City 1:DERRY CITY closed the gap on Bohemians to one point after a hard-earned win over Sligo Rovers in a bad-tempered game at the Showgrounds last night.

Both sides finished with 10 players as players became involved in a brawl after 70 minutes following a heavy tackle on Derry’s Clive Delaney resulting in Sligo’s Jason Noctor and Stephen Gray of Derry being sent off.

Sligo were missing seven of their regular team through injury and suspensions including captain Conor O’Grady and goalscorer Alan Keane, both suspended, and they had only two substitutes on the bench.

The home side contained Derry in the opening minutes but the visitors gradually played their way into the game. Sammy Morrow gave Derry the lead in the 13th minute with a clinical finish following Stephen Gray’s blistering run up the left wing.

Two brilliant saves by Sligo goalkeeper Richard Brush, stopping Gareth McGlynn’s close-range piledriver on the half-hour mark and a fine Mark Farren effort seconds later, kept the home side in the game. Rafael Cretaro forced Derry goalkeeper Gerry Doherty into a smart save after 34 minutes in Sligo’s first chance of the half.

David Scullion missed a gilt-edged opportunity to double Derry’s advantage in the 38th minute when he missed from close range.

Sligo were transformed in the second half with Cretaro’s runs up causing problems for Derry. Gareth McGlynn had a great shot blocked by Brush in the 87th minute and he denied substitute James McClean a minute later.

SLIGO ROVERS: Brush, Cash, Holmes, Peers, Ventre, Ryan, Noctor, Feeney, Morrison, Cretaro, Keohane (Kelly, 84 mins).

DERRY CITY: Doherty, McCallion, Delaney, Hutton, Gray, Higgins, Morrow (O'Brien, 77 mins), McGlynn, Deery, Farren, Scullion (McClean, 63 mins).

Referee: A Buttimer(Cork).