Chapman’s brilliant goal is the difference
SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division Waterford FC Sligo Rovers
back-to-back away games, especially fixtures that involved lengthy journeys.
But Russell, who has a game coming up against Galway United this Saturday at The Showgrounds, remained pragmatic.
“You have to play the cards you are dealt. We prepared as best we could for this game but we looked off it.”
The Connacht derby could be an unforgiving fixture for the team that isn’t switched on.
Russell added: “All the games are big in the Premier Division. I’m looking forward to getting back in front of our home fans – the fans have been amazing at home this year and those who travelled to see us [against St Pat’s].
“They kept singing even when we went 3-0 down. We will need them big time on Saturday.” outside the box.
But Rovers were later reduced in numbers when Simon Power was shown
0
a straight red after 75
1 minutes after he was involved in a shuffle with Waterford’s Rowan McDonald.
The visitors then relied on solid defending and the excellence of Ed McGinty to see them through – McGinty took care of a shot from Ben McCormack and then an attempted backheel flick from ex-Rovers man Padraig Amond, who tried to emulate the Wilson Waweru goal for Rovers from a few weeks ago.
Waterford were still a threat in additional time and Ben McCormack, who was a bright substitute, was wide with a header from Rowan McDonald’s cross. Aside from that Ellis Chapman wonder goal there were only a handful of chances for Rovers. Fabrice Hartmann saw his well-taken drive parried by Waterford goalkeeper Sam Sargeant after 62 minutes – Connor Malley created the chance – and in first-half stoppage time Nando Pijnaker’s goalbound header was tipped over by an alert Sargeant.
Indeed the home side were livelier in the first-half and possibly should have taken the lead. Maleace
A GOAL of the season contender from midfielder Ellis Chapman ensured that Sligo Rovers made a fruitful journey to the south-east on Friday night last.
Chapman’s superb strike from distance after 51 minutes was the difference in this SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division fixture as Rovers managed to keep a clean sheet and keep the hosts, Waterford FC, at arm’s length at Waterford’s Regional Sports Centre.
Rovers, who moved into second place in the standings following this win (and other results), had a Bit O’Luck on their side. Seven minutes after Chapman’s bullet – he belted home a knock down from Max Mata after Ed McGinty’s punt upfield – Rovers should have been down to 10 men.
Defender Ollie Denham looked to have tugged the jersey of Maleace Asamoah, as the Waterford attacker went through on goal, but referee Marc Lynch deemed it a yellow card offence and a free-kick was awarded
Asamoah was off target with a looping header and later on Darragh Burke seemed certain to score but Ed McGinty dived and parried with a strong hand. McGinty, who was the busier of the two goalkeepers in the first-half, was then outdone by his counterpart, Sam Sargeant, who stopped Fabrice Hartmann’s well-intentioned dink after Reece Hutchinson made a superb raid down the left.
The number of goals scored so far by Rovers midfielder Ellis Chapman in the top flight.
Best for Rovers: Reece Hutchinson
Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Charlie Wiggett, Nando Pijnaker, Ollie Denham, Reece Hutchinson; Niall Morahan, Connor Malley; Simon Power, Ellis Chapman (Kailin Barlow 65), Fabrice Hartmann (Will Fitzgerald 65); Max Mata (Wilson Waweru 65)
Subs not used: Richard Brush (gk), Rein Smit, Owen Elding, Kyle McDonagh, Conor Reynolds, Stefan Radosavljevic
Waterford FC: Sam Sargeant; Darragh Power, Grant Horton, Kacper Radkowski (Christie Pattison 70), Darragh Leahy
(c) (Connor Evans 85), Ryan Burke; Niall O’Keeffe (Ben McCormack 70), Rowan McDonald; Conor Parsons, Padraig Amond, Maleace Asamoah (Dean McMenamy 70) Referee: Marc Lynch
Attendance: 2,751