Europa League: FK Banga 0 - 0 Sligo Rovers

 

Openings for both sides were few and far between in what proved to be a scrappy affair.

 

 

The first shot in anger came after just four minutes when the ball dropped for David Cawley on the edge of the box whose effort was deflected wide.

 

 

Evaldas Grigaitis looked to be the home side's most threatening attacking option, first hitting a volley over before drilling a low shot from 30 yards into the arms of Gary Rogers.

 

 

Serhiy Shevchuk perhaps should have put Banga in front when he latched onto a cross from the right flank, but wasted the chance by blasting it well over the bar.

 

 

Raffaele Cretaro had The Bit O'Red's best opportunity of the half a minute later when he tried to test the 'keeper from just outside the box but skewing his shot narrowly wide.

 

 

Danny North and Kieran Djilali then combined to set up Cawley who was denied by the hands of Sarunas Jurevicius.

 

 

North came agonisingly close to scoring himself in the 50th minute when his sweetly struck volley was well saved by Jurevicius.

 

 

Seamus Conneely found himself on the end of a corner in the 72nd minute and had to shooting opportunities, but was denied on the line by a defender and the goalkeeper.

 

 

John Russell then tried from range with a driven shot moments later, forcing Jurevicius into action.

 

 

North could have snatched an injury-time winner when he was picked by a Djilali throw, but the striker was left with little space to shoot, allowing Banga to eventually clear the danger.

 

 

FK Banga: Sarunas Jurevicius, Urbaitis,Davydas Alauskis, Aleksey Epifanov, Evaldas Grigaitis, Zaurbek Karkusov, Andrius Butkus, Serhiy Shevchuk, Maksym Khablov, Aurelijus Staponka, Eivinas Zagurskas (Aslanbek Tsalagov, '78).

 

 

Sligo Rovers: Gary Rogers; Alan Keane (Danny Ledwith, '90), Seamus Conneely, Evan McMillan, Ross Gaynor; David Cawley, Paul O'Conor, John Russell, Raffaele Cretaro ('74), Kieran Djilali; Danny North,

Subs not used: Richard Brush, Eric Odhiambo, Sean Maguire.

 

 

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: David Cawley.