Rovers downed by Shels for first league defeat
Shelbourne’s John O’Sullivan scored the only goal as Sligo Rovers suffered a first league defeat of the season. Picture: INPHO
Sligo Rovers suffered their first league defeat of the season as they were beaten 1-0 by Shelbourne last Friday evening. John O’Sullivan got the game’s only goal early through the first half.
In team news for Rovers there were two changes from the side that had drawn with Derry the week previous as Charlie Wiggett and Wilson Waweru came in for John Ross Wilson and Fabrice Hartmann. Rovers started positively and in the sixth minute Simon Power put across a ball with pace from the right which was headed way from under his own crossbar by Shels defender Paddy Barrett.
Six minutes later and Shels took the lead in a move that was off the training ground. They won a corner on the left which Jonathan Lunney played short to Liam Burt. He crossed towards the back post where the ball was met on the volley by Sean Gannon whose effort skimmed off the head of his team mate O’Sullivan and went in.
The visitors could have doubled their lead in the 25th minute. Burt played in William Jarvis who did well to make space for a shot which lacked power and was easily saved by Rovers keeper Ed McGinty. Birt was involved again two minutes later as McGinty took a back pass from Wiggett and looked to switch the ball from his left to his right nearly getting caught in possession by the Shels striker but he recovered to claim the ball. Rovers thought that they had levelled in the 28th minute. Power with a cross from the right which came long to Reece Hutchinson, he clipped it back into the heart of the box where Waweru got to it ahead of Shels keeper Conor Kearns to head in only for the assistant referee to flag for offside.
Rovers had another chance in 36th minute as Niall Morahan played a good ball from midfield into the path of Ellis Chapman but he couldn’t get a proper strike on it and Kearns was able to make the routine save.
The second half wasn’t as free flowing as the first and took a while to get going. It was the visitors with the first offensive move when in the 63rd minute Gannon played a long ball forward for Jarvis to chase. He was able to get in ahead of Rovers defender Nando Pijnaker and get his shot away. McGinty made the save and then showed good reactions as he got up quick to keep out the follow up form Lunny. Rovers best chance of the half came in the 70th minute. Ollie Denham with a placed pass to the feet of Power who cut inside and was able to get a shot off but it failed to trouble Kearns who made the routine save. It was the visitors who had the last real chance. In the 82nd minute John Martin released Jarvis who was again denied by McGinty.
Rovers now have a busy week of league action as they were away to Dundalk last night and will be back in action in the Showgrounds this coming Saturday evening. The reigning champions Shamrock Rovers are the visitors and kick-off is at 7:45pm.
