Second half Russell strike sees off Harps
SLIGO ROVERS FINN HARPS 1 0 A second- half John Russell strike was enough for Rovers to defeat Finn Harps at The Showgrounds on Tuesday evening last.
In a lacklustre first- half, which Robertson described as “the poorest 45 minutes I’ve seen us play”, neither Rovers or Harps could really get a foothold in the game.
Shaun Patton was tested after 11 minutes with a shot from Ciaran O’Connor, with the Dundalk loanee almost giving Ollie Horgan’s men the lead later with his close range effort, which was kept out thanks to a block from Chris Kenny.
Whatever Robertson said to his players at half- time appeared to have worked, with Rovers starting the second half much better than the first.
Daniel Kearns, who has been the shining light of pre- season, played in Russell shortly after the re- start, his shot was then forced wide by Harps’ substitute ‘ keeper Harry Doherty.
Excellent link- up play between Kieran Sadlier and Matty Stevens allowed the latter an excellent opportunity to open the scoring, but he could not get the ball out from under his feet and a well timed tackle from Ethan Boyle then cleared the danger.
The Bit o’Red did eventually open the scoring shortly after the hour mark.
John Russell curled his shot around Doherty in the Harps goal to make it 1- 0 to the hosts.
Substitute Mikey Place really should have made it 2- 0 to Rovers, his close range shot was saved at the post by Doherty, before the follow up then smacked off the post.
Chris Kenny, who scored twice against the Irish Defence Forces the previous week, nearly doubled Rovers lead when his diving header in the dying seconds was forced out wide by Doherty.
Rovers: Shaun Patton ( Micheal Schlingermann, 46), Tobi Adebayo- Rowling, Regan Donelon, Mick Leahy ( Gary Boylan, 74), Kyle Callan- McFadden, Daniel Kearns, Kieran Sadlier ( Liam Martin, 60), Chris Kenny, John Russell, Raffaele Cretaro ( Mikey Place, 74), Matty Stevens ( Jonah Ayunga, 60).