Rovers go six without a win as game delayed

CHRISTIE Pattison’s second half strike was the difference as Waterford beat Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds on Friday night.

THE game got the go ahead after it was delayed by 15 minutes as officials were unhappy that a patch of artificial turf used in the goalmouth.

AFTER the patch was removed the game got the green light.

SLIGO came into this game looking for a first win since their last meeting with the Blues, who they beat 1-0 on Good Friday in the RSC. JOHN Russell’s men had lost three of their last five, drawing two.

ONE point separated the two sides, with Waterford just one point behind Sligo in the table. KEITH Long’s men’s recent form is slightly better than Sligo’s with one win in their last five, two draws and two defeats. INJURIES mean John Russell had a depleted squad for this game, with Max Mata returning and Rein Smit making his first start. SEVEN teenagers made the bench for the Bit O’Red.

LONG made three changes following last week’s defeat to Derry City; Kacper Radkowski, Christie Pattisson and Dean McMenamy all came into the team.

THE visitors were looking threatening early on, and were denied by a brilliant save from Ed McGinty after 20 minutes.

THE hosts then enjoyed a good spell, putting plenty of pressure on Sargeant’s goals, with Stefan Radosavljevic and Connor Malley causing problems.

DESPITE that, the sides could not be separated at the half way point.

JUST seconds had elapsed after the re-start when the visitors went ahead. CHRISTIE Pattison caught the ball perfectly on the half valley, beating Ed McGinty with a fine strike. AND they were almost celebrating again minutes later but a great save from McGinty denied the visitors a second goal as former Sligo player Padraig Amond tried to get on the end of Darragh Power’s throw. AMOND’S free-kick was blocked on 55 minutes, before Radosavljevic curled an effort wide of the post.

MCGINTY was stretching on 87 minutes to try and get a hand on Rowan McDonald’s effort from range, but the shot had too much height. SLIGO Rovers: McGinty, Wilson, Wiggett, Denham, Hutchinson, Radosavljevic (Hartmann, 71), Malley, Chapman (Elding, 71), Morahan, Smit, Mata.

WATERFORD: Sargeant, Power, Horton, Radkowski, Leahy, McDonald, McCormack (Evans, 84), Pattison (Asamoah, 72), McMenamy (O’Keeffe, 75), Parsons, Amond. REFEREE: Gavin Colfer.