Crucial that Rovers widen gap with Lims when they meet

BACK in the summer of 2007, both Bohemians and Cork City were in the midst of their respectively doomed bids to dominate Irish football for years to come. Shelbourne (remember them?) had won the league on goal difference just a few months previous, only to be relegated weeks later due to serious financial irregularities of their own.

While Drogheda United were also building their dreams on sand as they took home their only ever top division title only to be plagued by money problems of their own a season later.

In Sligo, Rovers had taken a gamble on an unproven manager named Paul Cook in their bid to survive a second season in the Premier Division following the departure of Sean Connor for the pot of gold at Dalymount Park. Feels like a lifetime ago.

On the last day of June that year, American winger Ian Wexler had given Longford Town the lead at the break at the Showgrounds. With Rovers half way to what would have been a demoralising defeat, the then 25-year-old Raff Cretaro and Bosnian midfielder Fahrudin Kuduzovic reversed the trend to seal three points for Rovers.

Quite a bit has gone on since then, so it is incredible to consider that it took another 379 league games for Rovers to do what they did that day and come back to win from a half-time deficit.

Five full-time and three caretaker managers since, Ger Lyttle became the first Bit O’Red boss to manage that feat on Friday night at the Brandywell. With three former Rovers players in the Derry starting eleven, it was inevitable that one of them would pop up. It wasn’t a bullet header from Gavin Peers, nor a neat finish from Ally Roy, who is thriving in his favoured position as the leading striker. Instead it was the versatile Jamie McDonagh who was allowed far too much space to fire one in from long range.

Previous to this, Rovers had put together some decent patterns of play. Similar to the first 45 in Tallaght the week previous, we had done all the hard work in midfield before things broke down in front of goal. Again, Rovers hit the woodwork only to be punished further on in the half.

Things didn’t look too bright at the break but Derry, who are the poster boys for inconsistency in a unpredictable league, simply stopped playing at the break. There have been times this season where Rovers have been slow to react to situations, but kudos to Lyttle and his management team who exploited the Candystripes’ weakness – pace, or lack of it at the back. His contribution to the Rovers over the years will not be matched by many. But even in this 33rd year, Peers legs aren’t what they were. While his partner in the heart of the defence Dan Seaborne struggled with the short sprints of Lewis Morrison, Mikey Drennan and later the raw pace of Caolan McAleer and bursts of Raff Cretaro.

I was critical of McAleer after the Shams game where he had very little say. I’m still convinced his most valuable role is as an impact sub against weary back lines and Friday was prime example of that.

The always impressive David Cawley had tied the game, meaning Kenny Shiels ushered his defence forward to press just short of the half-way line in an effort to keep the ball inside the Rovers half.

But this played into our hands. Kris Twardek, who is still adjusting to the ins and outs of the national league went direct before swinging a cross toward the front of Ger Doherty’s goal. It’s the first time I’ve ever wanted him to miss the ball, but Rhys McCabe’s touch seemed to actually take the pace off the ball for the incoming McAleer to squeeze his finish between Doherty and the post. The win, coupled with Limerick’s defeat again sees daylight between Rovers and that play-off spot. That breathing space is welcome ahead of the cup weekend, but it is crucial that Rovers do everything they can to widen that gap on Friday week down at Markets Field.

Before that, is Longford’s first visit to the Showgrounds in two years this Saturday in the FAI Cup. They embarrassed us in the same competition last season and although they have recently fallen off the pace in their promotion bid, Neale Fenn will see Saturday’s encounter as potential to add another string to his bow. As the full-time Premier Division side, Rovers are and should be expected to have too much for Longford. But we have been beaten too many times by the so-called weaker teams this year to be overly-confident. While only once have we managed to win twice on the bounce. With the fixture list working out the way it did and with so few home games these days, it would be great to see a big crowd in the gate on Saturday to roar Rovers on to the next round. Let’s just hope we don’t fall behind before the break!