McAleer double sees off Bray Wanderers

CAOLAN McAleer scored the first goals of his Sligo Rovers career last week as the Bit O’Red picked up their first win in three to see off Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds.

McAleer netted two superb goals in the space of seven minutes to put Rovers into a deserved lead at the break. Former Sligo man Paul O’Conor halved the deficit for a poor Bray side mid-way through the half.

The away side were first to threaten. David Cawley saw his effort come back off the crossbar after Ali Roy’s initial shot was pushed away by Bray goalkeeper Aaron Dillon.

Rovers were without net minder Mitchell Beeney due to flu. His deputy Micheál Schlingermann was called into action eleven minutes in as he got behind Aaron Greene’s effort.

Rovers hit the lead on 21. With nothing on in front of him, McAleer from 30 yards, unleashed an unstoppable effort which looped over Dillon and into the net.

The Tyrone native was on the double seven minutes later as he rounded both defender and keeper before slotting past Dillon.

Bray pulled one back on 64 minutes through O’Conor.

Rovers created enough chances to win two games but a third goal remained elusive.

Ger Lyttle’s charges hanging on for a win in what was their first away game of the season.

Sligo Rovers: Schlingermann; Boylan, Callan-McFadden, Sharkey, Waters; McAleer, Cawley, McCabe, Pinceli (Morrison 70), Roy (Keaney 90+3);Morgan (Moorhouse 88).

Bray Wanderers: Dillon; McKenna, Kenna, Heaney, Lynch; Kelly (Sullivan HT), O’Conor, McCabe (Noone 66), Greene; Coughlan, Pender (Galvin HT).

Referee: Sean Grant.