SSE Airtricity League Brilliant Rovers blitz Dundalk in a five-star show
Max Mata nets brace as Bit O’Red run riot at Oriel Park SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division Dundalk Sligo Rovers
Hutchinson who picked out to his ex-Chelthenam Town teammate Ellis Chapman on the opposite flank who then played a stunning ball into Max Mata to finish with aplomb to double his tally in Oriel Park.
Any player may have fancied their chances of a goal at this rate. Right-back JR Wilson stepped up to take a free-kick 20 yards from goal and drew a fine, full stretch save from goalkeeper Ross Munro who was brought on at half-time.
Dundalk, meanwhile, conjured up another decent chance from nothing 13 minutes from time as Scott High rifled a shot at goal, but McGinty was equal to it.
A sixth goal almost arrived in the form of what would have been a first competitive goal for Owen Elding. The young forward found himself in space to latch onto a cross from the right wing but his fine effort was well saved by Ross Munro.
TURNING POINT: Always on top. It is rare but wonderful when you don’t have to go looking for the moment when the match turned for Rovers. They dominated from kick-off and certainly by 2-0 the result never looked in doubt against a Dundalk side who looked sorry for themselves after just 15 minutes.
seemingly harmless shot was spilled by George Shelvey through his legs and over the line.
As Dundalk frantically tried to find a way onto the scoreboard, Rovers were a side brimming with confidence as Hartmann shone in attack, Ed McGinty cleaned up any danger near his goal and Niall Morahan at times was winning the midfield battle on his own as he managed to keep popping up everywhere.
Their persistence in further adding to their tally paid off again in the 33rd minute when a magnificent run from Ollie Denham concluded with a pass to Max Mata in the box. An excellent Andy Boyle tackle took the ball away from Mata, but Ellis Chapman was in the right place at the right time to seize on the loose ball and finish from an acute angle for his second and Rovers third goal of the evening.
Dundalk made two tactical changes to stem the tide, but the floodgates remained open as Rovers made it 4-0 just minutes later.
A thumping ball forward by Nando Pijnaker looked to be easily dealt with by Andy Boyle, but Max Mata hassled and harried the centre-back into coughing up possession and allowing the New Zealander to finish calmly into the bottom left corner.
Rovers remained in the ascendency after the break – but interestingly found it harder adapting to playing with the wind as opposed to playing into it.
A rare chance was created for Dundalk in the 58th minute when Sam Durrant looked to be one-on-one with Ed McGinty, but Reece Hutchinson caught up to make life difficult for the winger and allow McGinty to make an easier save.
Dundalk’s brief spell on top ended with further misery as a misplaced Robbie Benson ball ended up at the feet of Reece
Niall Morahan
Ed McGinty, JR Wilson (Charlie Wiggett 83), Ollie Denham,
Nando Pijnaker, Reece Hutchinson (Stefan Radosavljevic 71), Niall Morahan,
Ellis Chapman (Kailin Barlow 63), Conor Malley (Owen Elding
71), Fabrice Hartmann, Will Fitzgerald, Max Mata (Wilson Waweru 63)
Subs not used: Richard Brush (gk), Conor Reynolds, Kyle McDonagh, Simon Power
Dundalk:
The number of goals that Max Mata has scored in total so far for Sligo Rovers (over two spells).
ORIEL PARK: Dundalk (0) 0, Sligo Rovers (2) 5 (Max Mata 2, Ellis Chapman 2, Fabrice Hartmann)