Sligo Rovers continued their pre-season preparations ahead of the upcoming Premier Division season with a narrow defeat to Derry City at the Showgrounds. 

This was the Bit O’Red’s second outing of the year following last Saturday’s win over Athlone in the midlands. 

Rovers led early on through Owen Elding who again caught the eye when he finished a searching cross from new signing Ronan Manning after 13 minutes. 

Derry, who are expected to be amongst the title challengers once again this year levelled this friendly ten minutes from the break but only after Rovers keeper Conor Walsh had kept out a penalty. 

City’s lead only lasted 60 seconds. Elding had his brace with another superb finish on 36.

John Russell rang the changes at the break and Derry equalised soon after. 

While the Candystripes struck for the winner just after the hour. 

This was another valuable run out for Rovers ahead of the big kick-off on February 15th. Our next preseason game is penned in for this Saturday, January 25th against Galway United at Westport United’s grounds. 

Rovers: Conor Walsh, Oskar Van Hattum, John Mahon, Ollie Denham, Reece Hutchinson, Ronan Manning, Connor Malley, Jad Hakiki, Cian Kavanagh, Owen Elding, Francely Lomboto.

Second half: Conor Walsh, Conor Reynolds, Gareth McElroy, David Jonathan, Kyle McDonagh, Shea Malone, Conor Cannon, Callum Lynch, Owen Elding (Oisin Kelly), Guilherme Rego Priosti (Daire Patton), Francely Lomboto (Rasheed Yeboah).