EA SPORTS CUP: Nathan Boyle brace guides Derry City past Sligo Rovers

Derry City’s Nathan Boyle was again hailed a hero at the Brandywell on Tuesday night, his brace of goals seeing the Candystripes progress to the third round of the EA Sports Cup at the expense of Sligo Rovers.

In the end it was a comfortable win for the home side, both goals arriving during the opening period.

Having made five changes from the team which was held to a 1-1 result in Longford on Saturday, Derry were never in trouble, Sligo failed to fire in the front line.

However, they could have broken the deadlock in the 27th minute. A decent move on the left flank saw full-back, Regan Donelon float a cross into the danger area where the unchallenged Raffaele Cretaro headed the ball into keeper, Ger Doherty’s hands from 12 yards.

While at the other end Conor McCormack tried his luck from range, that effort easily saved by Micheal Schlingermann.

Derry, however, moved into the driving seat in the 34th minute when Sligo failed to stop a probing run down the right flank by Nathan Boyle. The striker cruised past two defenders before driving a low shot into the far corner of the net giving Schlingermann no chance.

Four minutes before the break, Boyle turned provider when setting up his leading front-man, Jordan Allen, but the Scot ballooned the ball over the cross when he really should have done better.

And during injury time at the end of the opening period, Boyle struck again when the Sligo defence struggled to clear their lines, the winger coasting in on the blind side to stroke a one-on-one effort into the net to give the home side a healthy half-time lead.

Following the change of ends a mistake by Patrick McClean could have proven costly, however, Sligo’s Liam Martin failed to make him pay when Doherty saved with his legs.

Substitute, John Russell had a good chance to reduce the deficit shortly after his introduction in the 78th minute, but he failed to hit the target.

However, Derry successfully held out and, in the end, deserved to progress into the third round of the competition.

Derry City - Doherty; Vemmelund, McBride, McClean, McDermott; McCormick, McEneff; Boyle (Daniels, 58), McNamee, Curtis (Doherty, 78); Allen (Patterson, 72).

Sligo Rovers - Schlingermann; Adebayo-Rowling, Leahy, Boylan, Donelon; Roberts (Place, 79), Keohane (Gordon, 79), Roddan, Martin ; Cretaro, Sadlier (Russell, 57).

Referee - A. Davey (Belfast).