Derry City secured a massive three points thanks to stoppage-time Will Patching penalty to see off Sligo Rovers 2-1 at a sun-drenched Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.
Left-back Ben Doherty had missed from the spot in the closing stages, before Derry were awarded a second penalty deep into stoppage time, this time Will Patching took over the responsibility to fire home from 12 yards to seal the points.
Derry, who gave new signing Paul McMullan his debut, were inches away from taking an early lead but Ben Doherty's long range effort flew over the bar.
Rovers went close themselves on 22 minutes but Stefan Radosavljevic's curling strike, which had City keeper Brian Maher worried, sailed just wide.
Moments later McMullan did well down the right as his cross found Jamie McGonigle at the back post, but the Dungiven man headed over when well placed inside the box.
McGonigle made up for that miss by breaking the deadlock on 30 minutes as Brandon Kavanagh's lovely defensive splitting through ball found the striker, who calmly slotted the ball home past McNicholas.
The visitors equalised on 40 minutes as Niall Morahan's neat skill and pass released Daniel Lafferty down the left and the Derry native made no mistake drilling the ball home past Maher from the edge of the box.
Rovers were fortunate not to be reduced to ten men right on the stroke of half-time as Nando Pijnaker brought down Doherty on the edge of the box, but referee Neil Doyle only cautioned the New Zealander international and Kavanagh's resulting free-kick was tipped over by McNicholas.
Derry boss Ruaidhrí Higgins made a double change on 64 minutes as new signing Daniel Mullen replaced McGonigle, while Will Patching returned from injury to come on for Kavanagh.
Patching went close to regaining the lead for Derry on 71 minutes but his well hit drive from 25 yards, which had McNicholas beaten, fizzed inches past the left hand post.
Soon after more good play by Patching ended with his curling left footed strike from the right hand edge of the box, flashing just wide.
The woodwork denied Derry on 81 minutes as a neat passing move ended with Michae Duffy feeding Doherty, but his well hit drive from just inside the box hit the post.
Doherty missed a golden chance to score the winner a minute later from the penalty spot, his initial shot was handled by Rovers centre-back John Mahon and referee Doyle pointed to the spot, but fortunately for the ex-Larne man, his left footed effort was kept out by McNicholas, who dived to his left to parry it away and the Sligo net-minder kept out Doherty's follow-up header.
Derry incredibly were awarded a second penalty deep into stoppage time as substitute Cian Kavanagh was brought down inside the box by Pijnaker, again Doyle pointed to the spot and this time Patching took the ball and fired home from 12 yards.
Derry City: Brian Maher, Ronan Boyce, Mark Connolly (Shane McEleney 85), Cameron McJannet, Ben Doherty; Sadou Diallo (Patrick McEleney 68), Cameron Dummigan (Cian Kavanagh 85), Brandon Kavanagh (Will Patching 64); Michael Duffy, Jamie McGonigle (Daniel Mullen 64), Paul McMullan.
Sligo Rovers: Luke McNicholas, Johan Brannefalk, Stefan Radosavljevic (Conor Campbell 92), Nando Pijnaker, Daniel Lafferty (David Cawley 68); Greg Bolger (Lukas Browning 78), Niall Morahan, Frank Liivak; John Mahon, Max Mata, Willliam Fitzgerald.
Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin).
