Rovers’ new year begins
SLIGO Rovers got their pre-season campaign underway on Saturday evening last as they beat Dutch side RKSV Leonidas by five goals to four in Rotterdam.
An early goal from Caolan McAleer on his first appearance in a Rovers shirt was followed up by a first half hat-trick from a Scottish striker, currently one of three players on trial with the Bit O’Red.
RKSV pulled a goal back late in the first half before three further goals from the Dutch outfit leveled the game at four each with two minutes to go.
But Greg Moorhouse scored just short of the final whistle to hand Rovers their first win of 2018 on what was just their second day back after the winter break.
Rovers took the lead from the penalty spot just three minutes in. Adam Wixted, also on his Rovers debut was sent sprawling by the outstretched leg of Leonidas defender Amir Aisic before the Scottish trialist dispatched his first of the game from twelve yards.
McAleer, a recent signing from Finn Harps doubled Rovers lead on the quarter hour, tucking the ball under Michael Franken from the angle before Assad El Harti halved Rovers’ lead six minutes later with a deft chip over Micheál Schlingermann.
The Scottish trialist was on hand once more as the League of Ireland side re-opened their two goal advantage on 37. Slipping the ball beyond Franken and into the opposite corner of the net for his second.
He completed his hat-trick on the stroke of half-time when he finished off Gary Boylan’s cross at the front post.
Rovers emptied their bench at half-time, introducing Moorhouse, Ed McGinty, Raff Cretaro, Jack Keaney, John Mahon and a French winger, also on trial.
The Irish side looked a little less assured defensively in the second period.
Leonidas cutting the lead to two twelve minutes in when Seamus Sharkey upended Oussama Yekheif in the area. El Harti beating McGinty from the resulting spot-kick for his second.
McGinty pulled off a great stop from a Luc Lionahr effort but could do little about the same player’s strike on 71.
Adrian Alisic’s neat flick setting up Lionahr to reduce the arrears to just the single goal.
Leonidas deservedly levelled the tie five minutes from time when Lionahr pulled the ball back for El Harti who smashed past McGinty for his hat-trick.
Rovers were not to be denied success on their first outing of the new year however as striker Moorhouse tapped home for the winner just short of the ninetieth minute.
Leonidas: Franken, Mellah, El Morabit, El Harti, Alisic, Alisic, Grommeren, Krolis, Kappel, Yekhief, de Brito.
Subs used: Almeida, Dos Santos, Lionahr, Smeets, Ajghouf, Westdijk.
Sligo Rovers: Schlingermann (McGinty HT); Boylan, Callan-McFadden (Mahon HT), Sharkey, Donelon; McAleer (Trialist HT), McCabe, Cawley (Keaney HT), Trialist, Wixted (Moorhouse HT); Trialist (Cretaro HT).
Referee: Roelof Luinge.