Two more goals for
Gary TwiggWhen Michael Daly equalised Gary Twiggs first-half opening goal for Rovers after 66 minutes it was the visitors who grew in confidence and took the game to the Hoops. However Twigg was on hand yet again to break their resolve late on and substitute Dessie Baker put the icing on the cake with a third goal.
The game started very cautiously with both sides failing to get any momentum going in their play. There was 22 minutes on the clock before the first half-chance, Sean O’Connors first touch let him down in front of goal after Treacys curling cross. Rovers had six changes to the team that drew with Drogheda but it was the visitors that almost drew first blood. Chris Turner burst forward on 26 minutes and put Kelly in on the right but the Dundalk defender hit the side-netting with his shot. Rovers hit back a minute later with Amond and Bradley combining for O’Connor to shoot straight at Bennion.
Mansaram went close with a shot from outside the area on 29 minutes before Bradleys free-kick evaded both Twigg and Maguire in the box. Rovers took the lead when Prices clearance fell nicely for Twigg on the left-hand side of the box and he controlled the ball before coolly shooting over the advancing ‘keeper.
Both sides had half-chances before a Dundalk free-kick caused a scramble in the Hoops defence on 43 minutes with Bermingham blocking Kellys close-range shot.
Thankfully the second-half was a little more lively and some good football saw Amond feed Bermingham but Twigg couldn’t control the low cross. Dundalk central defender Burns had a glancing header that went across the Hoops goal after 57 minutes from a corner before Robinson put Twigg in on goal at the other end but Bennion advanced to save with his feet. Stephen Bradley then shot just over the bar from 25 yards.
The Lilywhites equalised when Mansaram got on the end of a through ball to cross low for Daly to score from close-range. The Hoops were stunned but Robinsons 20-yard effort went narrowly wide on 70 minutes. With the visitors growing in confidence Mansaram sent ex-Hoop Ger Rowe on a run on the left of the Hoops goal and his shot beat Duggan but fortunately went narrowly wide. Simon Kelly then powered a header on goal from a corner with ten minutes remaining but Duggan saved. Just three minutes later Duggan advanced to the edge of the box to clear from Mansaram but the Dundalk number nine reacted quickly to shoot over Duggan only to see Aiden Price get back to head off the line.
Rovers got back in front when Rices long throw-in on 87 minutes saw Purcell knock the ball on for the unstoppable Twigg to head over Bennion and into the net. Dundalks resolve was finally broken and when Baker raced on to Rices long ball he hooked the ball over Bennion to seal the three points for Rovers.
