Ayunga rescues point for Rovers
DROGHEDA UNITED SLIGO ROVERS SLIGO Rovers boss Gerard Lyttle saw his new side take a valuable point from United Park on Friday night following a 1- 1 draw with Drogheda United.
The game was not without its nervy moments for the away side however as Rovers spent the majority of the game under heavy pressure from a free- flowing Drogheda attack.
Gareth McCaffrey had put Pete Mahon’s team in front on 22 minutes after a mishap between two Rovers players in front of their own area. McCaffrey showing his worth as he fired past Micheál Schlingermann on the turn.
Schlingermann was involved throughout, pulling off a number of smart saves to keep his side in the game.
But it was Drogheda’s Shane Elworthy who offered Rovers a path back into the tie at the other end when he clumsily tripped Jonah Ayunga inside the area seven minutes from the 1 1 break. The usually reliable Kieran Sadlier saw his spot- kick palmed away by Stephen McGuinness whose involvement was sporadic to say the least.
However McGuinness could do little about Rovers’ equaliser when it did arrive on 41 minutes. Sadlier playing his part to atone for his earlier inaccuracy as his corner picked out Ayunga at the back post for Sligo’s leveler.
It took Rovers a while to settle in this one. Adam Wixted was looking for his second goal in as many games having found the net against Finn Harps the week previous.
His snapshot was comfortably dealt with by Schlingermann after Kyle Callan- McFadden had cleared Elworthy’s cross into the path of the 22- year- old.
Rovers eventually found their feet following a busy start and both Raffaele Cretaro and Liam Martin had sight on goal on 13 and 17 minutes respectively. The Tubbercurry man burst through the middle of the United midfield but his speculative
shot didn’t meet the speed of his run as McGuinness had time to get his body behind the effort. Cretaro was involved again four minutes later, laying the ball into the path of Martin who turned inside but rushed his attempted left footer around the post.
Schlingermann played a key role in securing a point for Rovers at Tallaght Stadium two weeks previous and played his part once more on Friday.
He pulled off a superb save to keep out former Republic of Ireland international Stephen Elliot on 20 before denying Richie Purdy moments later after Purdy’s neat one- two with Gavin Brennan.
Cretaro seemed to misjudge the time and space he was afforded as he skied his volley from the angle just seconds before the Louthmen opened the scoring.
In his bid to lay the ball back to Mick Leahy, Martin inadvertently played the ball straight to the feet of a Drogheda player who in turn fed the impressive McCaffrey. The ex- Hibs man with one touch turned two Rovers defenders before planting the ball into the corner of the net.
The goal heralded a strong period of play from Drogs and McCaffrey went close to claiming a quick- fire brace on 24 only for the acrobatic Schlingermann to get across in time to divert the Dubliner’s free- kick around his post. While Brennan really should have doubled United’s lead just short of the half hour only for the former Shamrock Rovers man to volley Sean Thornton’s headed assist into the side netting from close range.
Another former Irish international in the Drogheda ranks, Thornton dragged an effort across the Rovers goal on 31. While Sadlier stung
the gloves of McGuinness with a powerful low drive at goal on 36.
The resulting corner led to the penalty. Sadlier’s cross was half cleared by Ciaran McGuigan before Ayunga was felled by an awkward challenge from Elworthy. Sadlier looked favourite to extend his season’s tally to six only for McGuinness to guess the right way.
Sadlier’s 41st minute corner did bear fruit for Rovers however. The unmarked Ayunga profiting from the space offered to head Sadlier’s corner past McGuinness at the back post.
The second half wasn’t as frantic as the first but again Schlingermann was tasked with keeping Rovers in it as he touched Elliot’s 20- yarder on to his post. Lyttle’s men failed to record a shot on target in the second 45 and the closest Rovers came to another goal was on 57 minutes. Regan Donelon threading the ball through to Martin whose hammered cross was just out of reach of the incoming Ayunga who only needed the slightest of touches to guide the ball home at the back post.
Schlingermann denied McCaffrey once more on 65 with another strong hand to redirect the ball past his post. Referee Ray Matthews signalling a goal- kick much to the bemusement of the home crowd. Drogheda looked the more likely to steal the points as the second period wore on and Rovers were a little fortunate not to be reduced to ten men on 77. Gary Boylan going into a tackle on Elliot having left the ground with studs showing, although credit Elliot who didn’t make much of the challenge. The reaction of the former Sunderland striker surely going a long way in Matthews’ decision to only book the otherwise solid Boylan.
Drogheda introduced playmaker Killian Brennan late on. The creative winger’s slip was to Rovers’ fortune as he prepared to shoot from eight yards whilst unmarked. While Brennan stood over the contest’s final chance after the ball struck Daniel Kearns’ hand. Brennan’s disappointing set- piece was again held by Schlingermann.
Drogheda United: Stephen McGuinness; Shane Elworthy, Luke Gallagher, Ciaran McGuigan, Conor Kane; Adam Wixted ( Mark Doyle 85), Sean Thornton, Richie Purdy, Gavin Brennan; Gareth McCaffrey ( Killian Brennan 75), Stephen Elliot ( Mark Griffin 74).
Sligo Rovers: Micheál Schlingermann; Tobi Adebayo- Rowling, Kyle Callan- McFadden, Mick Leahy ( Daniel Kearns 38) ( for Mikey Place 90+ 3), Regan Donelon; Liam Martin, Craig Roddan, Gary Boylan, Kieran Sadlier; Raffaele Cretaro; Jonah Ayunga ( Mathew Stevens 82).
Referee: Ray Matthews.