Hat-trick for Waweru as Rovers progress
Wilson Waweru netted a hat trick for Sligo Rovers against Cobh Wanderers.
It wasn’t pretty but it was effective as Sligo Rovers saw off non-league Cobh Wanderers in their FAI Cup clash which was played in the Showgrounds on Sunday evening. It proved to be a game to remember for Wilson Waweru as he scored a hat-trick in the 3-0 win, his first for the club and takes his tally to six goals for the season.
In team news Rovers were unchanged from the side that had beaten Bohemians FC the week previous. From the start it was clear that Cobh were set up defensive with ten behind the ball as they looked to contain and frustrate Rovers. The home side did have an early chance to take the lead when they won a corner on seven minutes. Will Fitzgerald sent over a corner from the right picking out Ollie Denham who headed wide.
Seven minutes later and Rovers did open the scoring. Niall Morahan won the ball in midfield and passed to the feet of Ellis Chapman. His quick shot on the turn from just outside the box was saved by Cobh keeper Mark Power. Waweru reacted quickly to put in the loose ball.
Chapman was at the heart of every good move for Rovers as he twice went close in quick succession with shots from outside the area, one going wide and one was blocked by Cobh defender Conor Walsh.
Another Fitzgerald corner in the 38th minute nearly led to another goal. Cobh failed to clear it and it came to Stephen Mallon whose well hit effort was narrowly over. Rovers did have the ball in the net again right on the stroke of half-time and it was a near repeat of their opener, Chapman with a header that came off the crossbar and Waweru with the rebound but this time the flag went up for offside.
It was all one way traffic in the second half. In the 52nd minute Reece Hutchinson played a ball across from the left, finding Chapman who shot too close to Power. Minutes later and Waweru went close, again a cross from the left from Hutchinson with the striker heading wide.
He did get his second in the 75th minute. Mallon crossed from the right and Fitzgerald got it down to Waweru who swept it home from close range. Cobh’s best chance of the game came soon after. Stephen O’Leary found space on the right and crossed into the box where Kevin Foster-O’Reilly headed wide.
Rovers wrapped up the scoring in stoppage time. Luke Pearce played a ball into the feet of Waweru who was brought down inside the box by Walsh. Waweru took the resulting spot kick and made no mistake as he sent Power the wrong way to complete his hat-trick. Rovers now go into the third round draw which will be broadcast live today (Tuesday) on the FAI YouTube channel at the FAI Headquarters, Abbottstown.
Rovers are back in league action this coming Saturday as they welcome Galway United to the Showgrounds for what will be the third Connacht derby of the season. Kick-off is at 7:45pm.
