Sadlier stunner sees Rovers move off bottom spot
SLIGO Rovers manager Dave Robertson was full of praise for his players as they saw off the challenge of Harry Kenny’s Bray Wanderers to win 3- 2, their first victory of the season.
That result sees them move off bottom spot, but only into tenth above both St. Patrick’s Athletic and Galway United.
Rovers now prepare to head into a crucial run of games, as they head to Finn Park on Saturday evening, before preparing for a meeting with Galway United in Eamonn Deacy Park the following week.
The next home game takes place on April 8th against Bohemian FC, another team harbouring fears of a relegation battle this season.
Rovers fought back having gone 1- 0 down with three minutes played, and Robertson was thrilled to see them show the character that he so strongly believes they posses.
“Obviously we’re really happy to get the three points. We knew it was going to be a tough test against Bray. They’re a good side, they’re a good outfit. They’ve been in form.
“They’ve started this season brightly with three wins themselves out of the opening four games so we knew it was going to be tough. To get the three points and also the performance from the players who really had to roll their sleeves up and dig deep and show some character in the second- half.
“We had to show our character and to be fair to the players they did that,” he added.
SLIGO ROVERS 3 BRAY WANDERERS 2
A sublime Kieran Sadlier free- kick saw Sligo Rovers win their first game of the season as they defeated Bray Wanderers 3- 2 at The Showgrounds on Saturday evening.
The visitors went ahead after just three minutes through Gary McCabe, before Derek Foran scored into his own net to make it 1- 1. Chris Kenny made it 2- 1 to the hosts, before McCabe struck again to level the scoring.
Sadlier’s second- half free- kick had the home fans in raptures, while Harry Kenny’s side had no response.
Dave Robertson’s side came into this game sitting at the foot of the table having picked up just one point from their previous four games.
The Seagulls had enjoyed a mixed run of form prior to The Showgrounds visit, winning three and losing just one.
An under pressure Dave Robertson knew that three points would be vital for his side to start turning their fortunes around.
It looked, though, as if it was going to be another long night for the Bit o’Red faithful as Bray went ahead with just three minutes on the clock.
Former Rovers player Aaron Greene crossed from the left, and a miscued clearance fell into the path of McCabe, another former Rovers man, who slotted it into the back of the net to make it 1- 0.
In contrast to previous weeks, though, Rovers didn’t collapse after conceding early and immediately went in search of an equaliser.
John Russell and Tobi Adebayo- Rowling both tested Peter Cherrie with excellent long range efforts, before Mick Leahy headed a corner straight into the arms of the former Dundalk netminder.
Former Peterborough midfielder Sadlier was beginning to cause the visitors a whole host of problems, and he almost played in Ayunga when his trickery dazzled the Bray defence, but the Kenyan qualified striker couldn’t get there in time.
Sadlier himself went close seconds later when his low shot was creeping towards goal, or so it seemed, only for it to trickle mere inches wide - a warning signal for Bray Wanderers.
The Wicklow side didn’t heed the prior warnings, though, and it was actually a former Rovers player, in Derek Foran, who gifted the hosts their equaliser.
Foran’s outstretched leg turned a Sadlier ball into the back of Cherrie’s net and it wasn’t long before the visitors were under even more pressure.
Dave Robertson’s side sensed that a second goal was there for them if they wanted it enough, and after a bit of to- ing and fro- ing, Sadlier’s ball came to Kenny who hit it first time into the back of the net.
The Seagulls were looking dangerous everytime they went forward, and Greene went close when he got on the end of a Dylan Connolly ball although his effort was just inches wide of Shaun Patton’s post.
Bray were gifted a golden opportunity on 38 minutes when Mick Leahy upended McCabe on the very edge of the box.
McCabe then made it 2- 2 with his stunning freekick, although it wasn’t even the best of the night.
Greene’s drive from distance looked promising in the early stages of the second- half, but it was mere inches too high.
So when the Bit o’Red were awarded a free- kick from around 30 yards, few would have expected Sadlier to go for goal directly, but that’s exactly what he did and his screamer gave Cherrie absolutely no chance in goal, giving Rovers a 3- 2 lead on 54 minuters.
Bray went in search of an equaliser, but it looked as though this was going to be Sligo’s day, as Patton was equal to efforts from both Greene and Anto Flood.
Substitute Ryan Brennan went close shortly after his introduction, but it was too little too late.
The result means Sligo Rovers move off the bottom of the table, leapfrogging both St. Patrick’s Athletic and Galway United. Bray remain in fourth spot.
Up next for the Bit o’Red is a visit to Donegal neighbours Finn Harps on Saturday, in a game that Robertson’s men simply must not lose.
Sligo Rovers: Shaun Patton, Tobi Adebayo- Rowling, Mick Leahy, Kyle Callan- McFadden, Liam Martin, Chris Kenny ( Gary Boylan, 88), John Russell, Craig Roddan, Kieran Sadlier ( Daniel Kearns, 83), Raffaele Cretaro ( Mathew Stevens, 88), Jonah Ayunga.
Subs not used: Micheal Schlingermann, John Mahon, Jack Keaney, Mikey Place.
Bray Wanderers: Peter Cherrie, Ryan Robinson ( Conor Earley, 28), Conor Kenna, Derek Foran, Kevin Lynch, Aaron Greene, John Sullivan ( Ryan Brennan, 75), Mark Salmon, Gary McCabe, Dylan Connolly, Anthony Flood ( Ger Pender, 82).
Subs not used: Lee Steacy, Hugh Douglas, Tim Clancy, Jason Marks.
Referee: Paul Tuite.