- Mark McGoldrick
- Sat, May 16 2015
Sligo Rovers welcomed Drogheda United to the Showgrounds this week with the encounter ending in a 2 – 0 win for the Bit o'Red with Dinny Corcoran bagging a brace to secure Rovers their first home win of the season.
The first chance of the game also resulted in the first goal of the game when Sander Puri and Sligo captain David Cawley managed to find holes in Drogheda's defence and lay the ball off to Dinny Corcoran, who fired the ball passed Michael Schlingermann into the back of the net.
From that strong position Rovers began to go in search of a second goal to hopefully secure a first home win of the season under Owen Heary; with Steven Beattie and Cawley both trying their luck at goal within the first ten minutes – but both attempts had too much power on them and sailed well over the visitor's crossbar.
John Russell had a very promising chance for the home side at the eighteen minute mark but the ball landed on his weaker foot and his shot went awry – going wide and out of play.
After that attempt by Russell the Bit o'Red's play started to slack off and Drogs took advantage of this and started to come into the game.
It wasn't until the 24 minute mark though that Sean Thorton managed to slice through the Sligo defence and get off a dangerous shot – which was only cleared after a manic scramble on Sligo's goal line along with the quick thinking of Puri and Stephen Folan.
Two minutes later Mick Daly managed to break away from Sligo and cross to fellow team mate Sean Brennan – but the pass had too much length on it and Rovers keeper Richard Brush picked it up.
For the next ten minutes Drogs dominated the game as they continually pinned Sligo into their own half – however the Bit o'Red defence held firm with particularly good defence by Folan – but despite this the visitors were unable to capitalise on their possession of the ball.
With two minutes to go in the half Puri had a great chance from the six yard line – but Schlingermann managed to get a fingertip save to the ball and deny the home side their second goal of the game.
Less than one minute later however a well-placed cross by Danny Ledwith found the head of Corcoran who smashed the ball passed the Drogheda keeper for the second time.
With the half over Rovers looked on course to have their first home win of the season with a comfortable 2-0 lead over their opponents.
It took 18 minutes of the second half for the first real chance to materialise for Rovers – when a great bit of play up the field by Rovers resulted in Puri finding Corcoran but the Sligo striker wasn't able to get a good angle on the shot and could only find the side netting.
Drogheda had their own opportunity three minutes later when a great cross by United winger Walshe found Jason Marks deep in the Rovers box but Marks was unable to keep the ball down and fired his shot up and out of play.
The second half however wasn't as exciting as the first and while Beattie and Corcoran continued to find holes in the Drogs defence Sligo were unable to find the net a third time. - while the visitor's didn't seem present in the half after a long cross by Mulvenna failed to find Walshe in the 72nd minute.
So the game ended with Sligo's first home win of the season safely in the bag. They go on to play Derry away next Friday while Drogheda entertain Galway United at home also next Friday and extratime.ie will bring you all the action as it happens.
Sligo Rovers: Richard Brush; Alan Keane, Stephen Foalan, Gavin Peers, Danny Ledwith; Sander Puri, David Cawley, John Russell (Raffaele Cretaro 90+2), Eoin Wearen, Steven Beattie (Kevin Devaney 82); Dinny Corcoran.
Subs Not Used: Ryan Coulter (gk), Gary Boylan, Ryan McManus, Gary Armstrong, Morten Nielsen.
Bookings: Beattie (75).
Drogheda United: Michael Schlingerman; Mick Daly, Joe Gorman, Jason Marks, Robert O'Reilly; Lee Duffy, Mark Hughes, Sean Thornton (Matty Roonney 88), Carl Walshe (Michael Scott 81); Tiernan Mulvenna, Sean Brennan (Sam McGowan 64).
Subs Not Used: Dylan Connolly (gk), Adam Whelan, Fionn Reily.
Bookings: Duffy (83).
Referee: Graham Kelly
Attendance: 1,048
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Sander Puri (Sligo Rovers).
