Winless run for Rovers continues
It was a game between two sides badly out of form as going into their League clash in the Showgrounds last Friday evening. Sligo Rovers hadn't won in six and Waterford hadn't won in four. It was the visitors who ended their streak as a goal from Christie Pattison gave them a 1-0 win.
In team news for Rovers there were two changes to the side that had been beaten by Drogheda United the week previous with Max Mata and Rein Smit coming in for Wilson Waweru and Will Fitzgerald.
There had been a threat the game would be called off and in the end kick-off was delayed for 15 minutes. The referee Gavin Colfer had an issue with the condition of the goalmouth at the Railway Stand end in the Showgrounds. He wanted a patch of astro turf that had been used all season removed and the area sanded.
It took both sides a while to settle into the game with Waterford creating the first chance on 17 minutes. Connor Parsons worked the ball down the left and got it across to Ben McCormack. He knocked it up for himself only to half volley wide of the post.
Three minutes later and they threatened again. Pattison with a strong run down the right. He looked up to see Parsons in loads of space on the left and played the ball into his path. The Waterford winger's shot from a tight angle was saved by the leg of Rovers keeper Ed McGinty.
Rovers got sight of goal on 28 minutes. Niall Morahan picked out J.R. Wilson on the right. His cross into the box wasn't dealt with by the Waterford defence and the ball fell to Connor Malley who shot into the side netting.
They should have scored on 39 minutes. Wilson teed up Malley, his strike was blocked into the path of Ellis Chapman who couldn't make a clean connection. The ball looped up and cropped for Mata who looked certain to score only for Horton to make a great goal line clearance.
They were left to rue that miss as one minute into the second half and Waterford scored what would prove to be the winner. Darragh Leahy with the ball on the left. He played it back to Rowan McDonald who crossed into the box. Padraig Amond headed it down into the ground and it came across to Pattison who rifled it home.
Rovers looked to try and get back on level terms and had a chance to do so on 65 minutes when Reece Hutchinson played the ball up to the feet of Stefan Radosavljevic who curled his resulting shot wide of the upright.
On 84 minutes they had another chance as Morahan chipped the ball into the box which was headed out as far as Owen Elding who shot first time only for it to be blocked by a Waterford defender. A wayward pass from Morahan gave Waterford a chance of a second on 87 minutes with his shot from 25 yards out skimming off the top of the crossbar.
Again Rovers spurned a great chance to earn themselves a point right on the stroke of full time. They won a free on the left. Fabrice Hartmann took it and lifted it into the heart of the box where Malley rose highest only to head well over the bar.
Rovers were back in action again at home yesterday (Monday) evening with St. Patrick’s Athletic the opponents. Next up it is the second Connacht derby of the season as they travel to Eamon Deacy Park this Friday evening to take on Galway United, kick-off is at 7:45pm.
