A night to forget for Sligo Rovers
Sligo Rovers' Wilson Waweru is blocked by Ryan Brennan of Drogheda United. Picture: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo
Sligo Rovers suffered one of the biggest defeats in their history as they were beaten 7-0 by Drogheda United in Weaver’s Park last Friday evening.
Douglas James-Taylor, Andrew Quinn, Conor Kane, Elicha Ahui, Adam Foley and Frantz Pierrot all scored for Drogheda with Pierrot scoring twice. It was Rovers worst away league defeat since February 1982 when they lost 7-1 against Limerick.
In team news there were three changes from the side that had been beaten the week previous by UCD in the FAI Cup with Charlie Wiggett, Kailin Barlow and Wilson Waweru coming in for Nando Pijnaker, Stephen Mallon and Jack Henry-Francis.
Rovers were given an early warning of what was to come when in the second minute James-Taylor got to the end of a long ball forward and found himself in on goal but was denied by the legs of Rovers keeper Ed McGinty.
Two minutes later and the home side opened the scoring. Ahui with a long throw from the right that Rovers player Will Fitzgerald could only head across his own goal with James-Taylor on hand to score with a close range half volley.
Seven minutes later and it was 2-0. Ryan Brennan fizzed in a corner from the left with Quinn on hand to score with a front post header.
Rovers had a chance to get themselves back in the game soon after. Fitzgerald with a ball from the left and both Waweru and Ellis Chapman had efforts blocked with the ball eventually going behind for a corner.
That miss proved costly as Drogheda made it three in the 37th minute. Kane sent in over an in swinging free from the right which was headed across goal and in by Pierrot. Rovers captain Niall Morahan called a team meeting on the pitch as he looked to rally his troops and they did see out the half without conceding another.
Any hopes of a second half fightback were dashed when Drogheda made it four in the 58th minute. Darragh Markey broke down the right and crossed into the box where Pierrot’s header was brilliantly saved by McGinty but the forward was able to put away the rebound.
It was five just after the hour mark. The ball was played up to the feet of Pierrot. He shielded it well and then laid it off to his left to Kane who shot low past McGinty and in off the post.
The woodwork came to Rovers rescue soon after when Kane had a strike from distance that hot off the foot of the post. That was to prove a brief respite as Drogheda added a sixth in the 76th minute. Gary Deegan sent over a corner from the left and while Ahui’s initial header was blocked he was able to sweep in the loose ball.
There was still time for another as in the first minute of stoppage time Kane played a through ball into the path of Foley who toe-poked it past the oncoming McGinty. That result took Drogheda off the foot of the table as they leap frogged their neighbours Dundalk while Rovers remain fourth.
Next up they are home to Waterford this coming Saturday evening in the Showgrounds, kick-off is at 7:45pm.
