UCD 0 – 2 Sligo Rovers | Airtricity Premier League
Rovers fans who have travelled to UCD in recent years, well read or not, have rarely enjoyed their time watching their sides exploits against the Students. But on this particular evening Padraig Amond and Gavin Peers were on hand to ensure there was plenty to celebrate.
Goals in the opening moments of each half secured three points for the visitors in a game that could have been a potential banana skin for Rovers.
Joseph Ndo won a free kick after some 30 seconds, and it was swung into the UCD box by Richie Ryan. The Student’s keeper, Billy Brennan failed to claim the incoming ball and it fell to the feet of Danny Ventre, whose shot was guided into the net by Padriag Amond, extending his league goals for the season to 10.
UCD went close after a quarter of an hour with midfielder Greg Bolger having a shot deflected over Richard Brush’s bar.
Chris Mulhall was giving Iarfhlaith Davoren a hard time down the right wing and showing his ability, he beat the former Galway United man and crossed to find Keith Ward who shot over the bar.
The second half began with another mistake by Brennan. Again he failed to claim a cross that found its way to Joseph Ndo. Ndo squared to John Dillon who shot across the face of goal.
Gavin Peers had been threatening to score in recent games from corners and on 47 minutes the Dubliner who has been attracting attention from across the water powered home a Joey Ndo corner.
The home side always threatened to score and just after the hour mark Evan McMillan connected with a Brian Shortall cross but the woodwork was on hand to save Richard Brush’s blushes.
Rovers were happy to surrender the majority of the possession to Martin Russell’s side and try and capitalise on the break. One such opportunity saw John Russell go close, shooting just wide, after the industrious Ndo linked up well with John Dillon who set up Russell.
With a quarter of an hour left Richard Brush kept Rovers in the game saving from Evan McMillan on two occasions.
The heat was turned up in the final minutes of the game with two straight red cards issued for each side. Referee Declan Hanney adjudged Alan Keane’s strong tackle on Ciaran Nangle a sending off offence, despite some Rovers fans who were close to the incident claiming Keane won the ball.
And Greg Bolger was given his marching orders after a clash with Richard Brush.
The result leaves Rovers in seventh, a point behind UCD and just 8 points off St Pats at the summit, as the league goes into its two week sabbatical. Next up for Paul Cook and Co. is the visit of St Pat’s for the fifth meeting of the side to date this season.
Between now and then personal changes are expected in the Rovers squad, with Romould Boco rumoured to be returning to the Showgrounds. Former St Pat’s, Bohs and Shelboure defender Colin Hawkins has also been on trial on Church Hill in recent weeks. Hawkins is currently playing his football with Brighton & Hove Albion.
UCD: B Brennan, A Boyle, S Harding, E McMillan, C Nangle, G Bolger, P Corry, D McMillan, C Mulhall, K Ward, C Kilduff. SUBS R Creevy, M McGinley, G Rusk(for Ward 55”), B Shortall (Harding on 55”), D Wilson.
Sligo Rovers: R Brush, I Davoren, A Keane, G Peers, D Ventre, J Dillon, J Ndo, J Russell, R Ryan, P Amond, E Doyle. SUBS: C Kelly, M Doninger, G McCabe(for Doyle 61”), C O’Grady, P Whelan.
Wednesday, 9 June 2010
Wednesday, 2 June 2010
Rovers Exact Revenge Over Saints
Monday night’s win over St. Patrick’s Athletic at the Showgrounds brings Sligo Rovers goal tally to 21 over their last 4 home games. A blip 1-0 loss away to Dundalk in the league the only blemish on the sides recent record.
Paul Cook kept the same starting XI that put 5 past Bray last Saturday night, John Dillon holding onto his place wide on the right despite the availability of Gary McCabe who was suspended for the Bray win.
John Russell was instrumental in Monday night’s victory and it’s no surprise Paul
Cook’s side have been playing some of the best football in the league since his first game for the club, coming on as a sub during the 6-0 win over Letterkenny Rovers in
the previous round of the EA Sports Cup.
Russell, alongside Richie Ryan in the centre of the park are providing a formidable force and it was the combination of the two that saw Rovers go a goal up in after 22 minutes. Ryan stuck a free kick into Dan Connor’s box and found Russell unmarked at the back post to squeeze the ball between Connor and the post.
Rovers were dominating a strong St Patrick’s Athletic side, the league’s top scorer Padraig Amond looking lively up front with Joseph Ndo, who in recent games, is beginning to show just how stylish a player he is.
The former Cameroon international doubled the home sides lead just after the half hour mark. A sweeping move, emanating deep in the Rovers half saw Richie Ryan, John Dillon and Russell all combining to put Ndo in on goal. The former St. Pat’s man made no mistake slotting past Dan Connor.
In the final 15 minutes of the first half the Inchicore side did have their chances too, hitting the crossbar at one stage and Richard Brush was on hand to save from Alex Williams.
The second half opened with Dan Connor pulling off an excellent save from Padriag Amond.
Pete Mahon’s side stepped up their efforts for the second half but never really threatened Richard Brush’s goal. Dave Mulcahy and David McAllister’s influence in the centre of the park grew as the game turned a little scrappy.
The Dublin side reverted to a more physical approach in an effort to disrupt Rovers slick passing game. This saw Alex Williams pick up a yellow card after a hefty challenge on Alan Keane under the noses of those sitting on the St Pat’s bench.
On 70 minutes St. Pat’s did pull one back to leave the Rovers faithful a little uneasy in their seats, Connor Sinnott beating Brush in a crowded penalty area.
However, Conor O’Grady who came on in place of Russell, was seen diving to his left, like a young Peter Smicheal and did get a gloveless hand to the ball but failed to stop Sinnott’s effort.
The referee, Mr. N Doyle who must have seen it, blew his whistle and pointed to the centre spot. Presumably he took the view Conor “Smicheal” O’Grady was behind the goal line didn’t interfere with play. But the referee’s assistant flagged and suggested O’Grady should be booked. Out came the yellow card for the Rovers captain and the game resumed with a Rovers tip off.
One would think if O’Grady deserved a booking for interfering with play the circumstances would deem a spot kick for St Pat’s, but this was not the way our diligent official saw it.
St. Pat’s had a number of corners, as they searched for an equaliser but the centre-half pairing of Danny Ventre and Gavin Peers were on hand to mop up any danger.
With 5 minutes to go Eoin Doyle put the game beyond the visitors and Amond completed the rout in the final minute making it 4-1.
So Rovers progress to the last 4 of the League Cup along with Shamrock Rovers, Monaghan and Dundalk. Considering current form, Paul Cook’s side must been seen as one of the favourites to lift the cup, which was last lifted by Rovers in 1998 when Nicky Reid’s team defeated Shelbourne over two legs.
Paul Cook kept the same starting XI that put 5 past Bray last Saturday night, John Dillon holding onto his place wide on the right despite the availability of Gary McCabe who was suspended for the Bray win.
John Russell was instrumental in Monday night’s victory and it’s no surprise Paul
Cook’s side have been playing some of the best football in the league since his first game for the club, coming on as a sub during the 6-0 win over Letterkenny Rovers in
the previous round of the EA Sports Cup.
Russell, alongside Richie Ryan in the centre of the park are providing a formidable force and it was the combination of the two that saw Rovers go a goal up in after 22 minutes. Ryan stuck a free kick into Dan Connor’s box and found Russell unmarked at the back post to squeeze the ball between Connor and the post.
Rovers were dominating a strong St Patrick’s Athletic side, the league’s top scorer Padraig Amond looking lively up front with Joseph Ndo, who in recent games, is beginning to show just how stylish a player he is.
The former Cameroon international doubled the home sides lead just after the half hour mark. A sweeping move, emanating deep in the Rovers half saw Richie Ryan, John Dillon and Russell all combining to put Ndo in on goal. The former St. Pat’s man made no mistake slotting past Dan Connor.
In the final 15 minutes of the first half the Inchicore side did have their chances too, hitting the crossbar at one stage and Richard Brush was on hand to save from Alex Williams.
The second half opened with Dan Connor pulling off an excellent save from Padriag Amond.
Pete Mahon’s side stepped up their efforts for the second half but never really threatened Richard Brush’s goal. Dave Mulcahy and David McAllister’s influence in the centre of the park grew as the game turned a little scrappy.
The Dublin side reverted to a more physical approach in an effort to disrupt Rovers slick passing game. This saw Alex Williams pick up a yellow card after a hefty challenge on Alan Keane under the noses of those sitting on the St Pat’s bench.
On 70 minutes St. Pat’s did pull one back to leave the Rovers faithful a little uneasy in their seats, Connor Sinnott beating Brush in a crowded penalty area.
However, Conor O’Grady who came on in place of Russell, was seen diving to his left, like a young Peter Smicheal and did get a gloveless hand to the ball but failed to stop Sinnott’s effort.
The referee, Mr. N Doyle who must have seen it, blew his whistle and pointed to the centre spot. Presumably he took the view Conor “Smicheal” O’Grady was behind the goal line didn’t interfere with play. But the referee’s assistant flagged and suggested O’Grady should be booked. Out came the yellow card for the Rovers captain and the game resumed with a Rovers tip off.
One would think if O’Grady deserved a booking for interfering with play the circumstances would deem a spot kick for St Pat’s, but this was not the way our diligent official saw it.
St. Pat’s had a number of corners, as they searched for an equaliser but the centre-half pairing of Danny Ventre and Gavin Peers were on hand to mop up any danger.
With 5 minutes to go Eoin Doyle put the game beyond the visitors and Amond completed the rout in the final minute making it 4-1.
So Rovers progress to the last 4 of the League Cup along with Shamrock Rovers, Monaghan and Dundalk. Considering current form, Paul Cook’s side must been seen as one of the favourites to lift the cup, which was last lifted by Rovers in 1998 when Nicky Reid’s team defeated Shelbourne over two legs.
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