Rovers left feeling down in the Drogs
Ed McGinty and his Sligo Roversteammates endured a tough evening away to Drogheda United.
After a promising start to the season, Sligo Rovers have hit a slump in form and are now five games without a win after they were beaten 3-1 by Drogheda United in Wavers Park last Friday evening.
They had taken the lead through an early strike from Will Fitzgerald but the home team took all the points thanks to goals from Darragh Markey, Frantz Pierrot and Aaron McNally. In team news there were three changes to the side that had drawn with Galway United the Monday previous with Fitzgerald, Wilson Waweru and Stefan Radosavljevic coming in for Max Mata, Fabrice Hartmann and Simon Power.
The game started at a quick pace with Drogheda nearly opening the scoring inside the first minute. Markey picked out Adam Foley on the right and he squared the ball across goal for Pierrot whose effort took a deflection off a defender that took it wide of the post.
Five minutes later and Rovers broke the deadlock. Niall Morahan played the ball out left to Connor Malley. He crossed it into the box where Waweru chested down into the path of Fitzgerald who lashed it into the net.
Drogheda could have been level soon after as Foley found Luke Heeney on the right and his cross was met in the box by Pierrot whose flick header went across the face of goal and wide. They did draw level in the 24th minute, however, as Pierrot won the ball on the left and played a 1-2 with Warren David. His shot was blocked a defender into the path of Markey who met it first time blasting it with his right foot into the top corner.
Rovers had a chance just before half-time to retake the lead when Malley teed up Radosavljevic but he shot well off target.
Sligo also started the second-half well but failed to convert their possession into chances, their one effort of note being when Ellis Chapman whipped a dangerous ball across the face of goal with Kailin Barlow unable to get on the end of it.
They paid the literal penalty for their wasted possession in the 69th minute. Markey picked out Heeney on the right and although his cross was cleared, it came back out to him and he cut into the box only to be fouled by Morahan and a penalty was awarded. Pierrot stepped up to take it and made no mistake as he sent Rovers goalkeeper Ed McGinty the wrong way.
That second goal seemed to take the wind out of Rovers as they struggled to make any inroads, with Drogheda in full control. It came as little surprise then when the home side added a third goal in the 86th minute. A long ball out of defence was headed on by Ryan Brennan into the path of McNally. He worked his way into the box, turning inside Rovers defender Charlie Wiggett before shooting past the oncoming McGinty.
Reece Hutchinson had a late effort for Rovers to try and pull a goal back. He broke down the left before coming inside and shooting narrowly off target.
Next up for Rovers they are home to Waterford United this coming Friday evening in the Showgrounds, kick-off is at 7:45pm.
