- Alan Finn
- Sat, Mar 16 2013
Homepage Image by John Doyle
Sligo Rovers move to the top of the Airtricity Premier Division tonight following a 3-0 victory over Bray Wanderers at The Showgrounds.
It took 23 minutes for the first opportunity to work either goalkeeper as Rafael Cretaro’s shot took a bobble on the way towards goal which caused Darren Quigley to fumble before eventually seeing it cleared it away.
Anthony Elding was having no luck with the officials for much of the first half, seeing a number of moves brought to an abrupt halt after being ruled offside. In the 39th minute he broke the deadlock after getting on the end of a Lee Lynch cross to head into the back of the net.
Gary Dempsey came close to equalising for the visitors on the stroke of half-time when his free-kick from just outside the box just missed the target as it clipped the crossbar on the way over.
Kieran Djilali was introduced for his home debut as the game approached the hour mark and he almost combined with Elding to double the home side’s lead. The winger’s cross looked the destined to reach Elding, but at full stretch, Darren Quigley managed to knock it away. Moments later, Elding had another chance, but his volley lacked any venom as it rolled into the ‘keeper’s hands.
Up the other end, Kieran Marty Waters tries his luck from the edge of the box, but his deflected effort trickles just wide of Gary Rogers post.
The visitors went close again minutes later when a cross picked out Gary Dempsey who forced Rogers into action with a well struck volley.
As the game approached injury time, Rovers sealed the point in the 87th minute when Ross Gaynor crossed for Elding who found the back of the net once again with a powerful header from close range.
Elding could have had a hat-trick minutes later when David Cawley played Djilali through who crossed for the former Grimsby man, but he lifted his effort over the bar.
There was still time for one more goal in injury time as Aaron Greene made his way into the box and set-up Djilali placed the ball into the top corner in what proved to be a good night in front of goal for the Rovers new boys.
Sligo Rovers: Gary Rogers; Alan Keane, Gavin Peers (Jeff Henderson 88), Evan McMillan, Ross Gaynor; Rafael Cretaro (Kieran Djilali 59), David Cawley, Seamus Conneely, Lee Lynch, Ryan Connolly (Aaron Greene 65); Anthony Elding.
Subs not used: Ciaran Kelly, Marty Owens, Pascal Millien, Liam Martin.
Booked: Gavin Peers. Ross Gaynor
Bray Wanderers: Darren Quigley; Eoin Hyland, David Webster, Danny O’Connor, Kevin Knight; Daire Doyle (Shane O’Neill 80), Dean Zambra, Gary Dempsey, Kevin O’Connor (John Mulroy 71), Kieran Marty Waters; Jason Byrne (Ismahil Akinade 71).
Subs not used: Conor Early, Paul Malone, Peter Thomas, Sean Holmes.
Bookings: Kevin Knight.
Referee: Derek Tomney.
Attendance: 2,684.
ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match: Anthony Elding (Sligo Rovers).
