Derry City in despair after late defeat to Sligo

A LATE Ryan De Vries header at the Sligo Showgrounds all but ended Derry City's slim hopes of securing European football and dragged the Brandywell outfit into a dogfight at the bottom of the table.

The New Zealand forward stooped to head past Peter Cherrie for an 86th minutes winner to decide a tight contest on a wet and windy night in Sligo.

It was the second victory of the season for Liam Buckley's men over Derry who remain in seventh spot having picked up just two points from their last four league outings.

Walter Figueira should've put Derry ahead late in the second half but somehow turned Ibrahim Meite's effort onto the post.

Sligo move into fifth in the league table while Derry will look perilously over the shoulders as they remain just three points ahead of second from bottom Finn Harps.

Derry were unchanged from the team which suffered that heartbreaking stoppage time defeat against Bohemians at Dalymount.

Sligo meanwhile made four changes from the team which lost 1-0 to Waterford in their last outing.

Derry forced successive corners with just two minutes on the clock, hoping to repeat their quickfire start against Bohs.

And when Adam Hammill delivered towards the near post for a second time Ed McGinty dropped the ball inside his six yard line and Gary Buckley managed to change before Walter Figueira could react.

Will Seymore spread the ball towards Ronan Coughlan who found space on the right wing and his low cross deflected off the foot of Eoin Toal before Peter Cherrie gathered.

Figueira did superbly to win the ball in the final third of the pitch and when Jake Dunwoody laid it into the path of Jack Malone the midfielder pulled his shot across goal and wide on 22 minutes.

Sligo had a glorious chance to break the deadlock on the half hour mark as Regan Donelon's cross bounced over the head of Ciaran Coll and Jesse Devers's strike on the half volley from six yards sailed over.

Figueria found Darren Cole racing in at the back post with an inswinging cross but the City defender couldn't get a telling touch on it and the chance was lost.

The Bit O'Red threatened again on 37 minutes from a quick break on the right as the dangerous Devers raced through on goal before unleashing a shot from an angle.

Cherrie blocked Devers' effort before getting a vital touch to send Coughlan's strike on the rebound over the bar.

The pacy Devers once again broke down the right flank as Coll was caught out of position again but his low shot was saved comfortably by Cherrie as the teams went in level at the break.

Former Derry striker, Junior linked up well with Coughlan 10 minutes into the seccond half and the latter found Niall Morahan unmarked just inside the Derry penalty area but drove his shot wide of the target.

Derry were struggling against the strong wind and Sligo were applying the pressure.

Hammill tried his luck from a free-kick 30 yards from goal but his dipping shot didn't trouble McGinty who got down to smother the ball.

Derry were gifted a promising chance when McCormack dispossessed Seymore as he tried to play out from the back.

The City skipper found Hammill who played substitute Stephen Mallon into space but his powerful shot went across goal and narrowly wide.

Coughlan curled a free-kick narrowly wide of Cherrie's post on 72 minutes.

The game began to open up in the closing moments and when Derry sub, Ibrahim Meite got in behind the Sligo defence and his shot across the face of goal was turned onto the post by Figueira as Derry missed a golden opportunity to take maximum points.

Cherrie saved from Ryan De Vries strike inside a crowded penalty area as Sligo pushed for a winner.

And the Bit O'Red finally got the breakthrough with four minutes to go as De Vries got in front of Coll at the far post to head Cooper's cross past Cherrie.

That proved the winner as Derry suffered consecutive defeats ahead of a home game against Waterford on Friday.

Sligo Rovers: E. McGinty; D. Noone, G. Buckley, T. Penninkangas, R. Donelon (A. Cooper 81); J. Devers (L. Banks 84), N. Morahan, W. Seymore, J. Ogedi-Uzokwe; R. de Vries, R. Coughlan; Subs Not Used - L. McNicholas, M. Byrne, J. Russell, R. Murray, J. Mahon.

Derry City: P. Cherrie; D. Cole, C. McJannett, E. Toal, C. Coll; J. Malone (S. Mallon 60), C. McCormack, J. Dunwoody (C. Harkin 84), A. Hammill; W. Figueira; J. Akintunde (I. Meite 73); Subs Not Used - N. Gartside, C. Horgan, C. Clifford, M. McChrystal.

Referee - Neil Doyle (Dublin.)