Much needed boost for the Hoops as Sligo pay the Price

A man of the match performance by Aiden Price was capped with his first goal for the Hoops when he powerfully headed into the back of the net from a corner to give the Hoops a 2-0 lead on the hour. The goal followed a much better performance in the second half by Rovers as Padraig Amond had given the Hoops the lead on 51 minutes when he headed home from close range from Sean O'Connors free-kick.

The first half was very disappointing and Sligo were reduced to 10 men as early as the 22nd minute when Butler received a second yellow card after clashing with Sean O'Connor. Up to that point the Hoops hadn't really tested Jennings in the visitors goal despite the strong low evening sun shining into the 'keeper eyes.

After the sending-off the game was patchy with not a lot of football being played. It wasn't until the 37th minute that Sean O'Connor turned to cross into the box and just failed to find Amond. The same player shot from just outside the box 2 minutes later but Jennings saved. The first chance for Sligo came in the 44th minute when Kudozovic shot just over the bar from well outside the box.

The Hoops were well worth their two goal advantage by the 60th minute with a much improved second half display. Jennings struggled to gather a Ferguson header from Bakers free-kick in the 62nd minute but the Sligo 'keeper did well to take Bakers fine cross just two minutes later. Rovers were completely on top but the visitors weren't going to lie down and accept defeat easily.

After 67 minutes Barry Murphy deied the Reds a goal with a brilliant one-handed save. From the resultant corner Sligo had two attempts on goal before Murphy emphatically shot past the Hoops 'keeper from a tight angle to reduce the deficit. Barry Ferguson received a yellow card for a professional foul as Sligo threw men forward in search of an equaliser.

Amond almost got his second when he connected with Bakers fine cross on 75 minutes but he shot over. Price made a fine defensive header from a good cross on 80 minutes and at the other end substitute Stapleton was first to a loose ball in the area to shoot just wide from a tight angle. Alan Murphy had a chance for Sligo with just three minutes to go but dragged his shot across goal.

Rovers should have wrapped up the game with a minute to go when Jennings miss-hit his clearance and it fell to Purcell just outside the box. However the Hoops substitute hesitated and a defender got back to clear. As the game entered the four minutes of added-on time the Sligo number 14 fired a decent effort just over from the edge of the area.

Baker sent in another good cross that Amond just failed to connect to and Barry Murphy was alert to save a low effort in the dying minutes. The final action saw Amond head towards goal from Bakers cross and Jennings made a fabulous one-handed save unaware that the Linesman had flagged for offside. The final whistle was met with relief as the Hoops ended a barren 12 match spell without a win.