CHAPMAN SINKS SORRY SAINTS
ELLIS CHAPMAN’S 23rd minute strike gave Sligo Rovers a much needed boost as they saw off an out-of-sorts St Patrick’s Athletic at the Showgrounds.
Chapman’s goal from range, handed the Bit O’Red their first win in seven, moving them to within a point of their opponents in the league table.
Although Sligo impressed at times in the opening half, it was the Dubliners who fashioned the majority of chances in front of goal.
John Daly’s charges should have been ahead on nine minutes when Chris Forrester and Brandon Kavanagh combined to find former Sligo youth Ruairi Keating.
The unmarked striker blazed over from ten yards out.
Header
Conor Keeley’s header from a Kavanagh free landed on the roof of the Rovers net on the quarter hour, as Jake Mulraney in particular was causing concern down their left flank.
Chapman then fired the home side in front on 23 minutes.
The former Cheltenham man lashed the ball past Danny Rogers from 25 yards.
Rovers goalkeeper Ed McGinty had to bat away an effort from the angle from Keating early in the second period.
McGinty was in the thick of things again on 61 minutes when he executed a magnificent reaction save to deny Forrester’s stab at goal from a swerving Kavanagh set piece kick.
The home support thought they had a penalty on 71 when substitute Rein Smit went to ground following a challenge by Pat’s net minder Rogers.
Referee David Dunne judged the situation differently however, awarding a free out and booking the
Dutch striker for simulation.
Drive
Connor Malley’s drive from 30 yards whistled over the Dubliners’ crossbar with twelve minutes to go as Rovers, now the better side, sought to kill the game.
There was late effort from the visitors, who looked unconvincing in attack, although Rovers did have to rely on a heroic late block from skipper Niall Morahan from Pat’s sub Mason Melia.
SLIGO ROVERS: E McGinty; C Reynolds (K Barlow 68), C Wiggett, O Denham, R Hutchinson; N Morahan, E Chapman, C Malley; F Hartmann (O Elding 57), S Radosavljevic (W Waweru 84); M Mata (R Smit 68).
ST PATRICK’S: D Rogers; K Freeman, C Keeley, L Turner, A Breslin; J Lennon; C Forrester, B Kavanagh (R Palmer 68); J Mulraney (K Leavy 73), A Nolan (M Melia 68), R Keating.
Referee: D Dunne Attendance: 2,548.