Super sub Power(s) Rovers to victory
Sligo Rovers celebrate Simon Power’s second goal. Picture: INPHO/Evan Logan
Two second half goals from substitute Simon Power saw Sligo Rovers beat Shamrock Rovers in the Showgrounds last Friday evening. The hosts made two changes to the side that had been beaten by Dundalk before the break as Nando Pjinaker and Wilson Waweru came in for Charlie Wiggett and Kailin Barlow. Fabrice Hartmann started his last game for the club as he has now returned to his parent club German side RB Leipzig.
Shamrock started brightly going close after five minutes. Graham Burke played a ball down the right which came to Richie Towell and he let it sit up before lashing a half volley just over the crossbar. Six minutes later and they threatened again as a Dylan Watts cross from the right met by the head of Conan Noonan, with Rovers keeper Ed McGinty well positioned to make the save. Rovers first chance of the half came on 23 minutes. Waweru headed the ball out to J.R. Wilson. He teed up Ellis Chapman whose shot was too close to Shamrock keeper Leon Pohls.
A minute later and Shamrock could have broken the deadlock. Gary O’Neill with great ball forward for Johnny Kenny to chase. The young striker was able to get it under control with a flick and closed in on goal only to pull his shot wide of the post.
Shamrock spurned another good chance to take the lead three minutes into the second half. A misplaced throw in on the left from Reece Hutchinson was latched onto by Kenny who this time was denied by the legs of McGinty with Burke unable to convert the follow up. Hartmann had a chance to sign off his time with Rovers with a goal on 56 minutes when he took a pass from Wilson on the right. He cut in on his left foot only for Pohls to turn his effort around the post. That was his last shot in anger for Rovers as he was replaced by Power on 70 minutes and the change had a near instant pay off. Four minutes later, Power played a ball from the right into Wilson. His route to goal was blocked so he played it back to the former Shamrock man who decided to run at goal himself before shooting low under Pohls and into the net.
Shamrock were stunned by going behind and a former Rovers player Aaron Greene had a chance to level matters soon after but the angle was too tight for him to beat McGinty.
Rovers then made sure of the win when they scored their second with seven minutes remaining. Ollie Denham won the ball inside his own half and broke forward. With nothing on he played the ball back to Power. Again he took it on and unleashed a venomous shot with the outside of his right foot that flew past Pohls and into the net to secure a first Rovers win over Shamrock since May 2021.
Next up for them it is the North West derby as they welcome Derry City to the Showgrounds this (Thursday) evening. Kick-off is at 7:45pm.
