Sligo Rovers         2    -     0     Dublin City
Mansaram, Curran

Attendance: 1100 (est)
Match Sponsor: Emo Filling Station
City Alarms Man of the Match:    Matt Judge


Dermot Keely’s sides have proven extremely difficult to break down in recent times, but tonight, they looked a shadow of themselves as Rovers deservedly took all three points.

The first half was by far the more entertaining with the home side looking the more likely. Playing into the railway end, Rovers had the better the early exchanges, the first when a Turner free kick in the opening minutes, bounced awkwardly but Rogers gathered at the second attempt. It was Turner again moments later, this time being set up later by Kudozovic, but the Northern Irish international blasted over.

The clearest chance of the first quarter fell to Dublin City on twenty minutes when a throw in from the right was flicked on by Pender as far as Freeman, whose shot hit the outside of the post and went wide.

The home side didn’t dwell on the near-miss as they counter attacked immediately to take the lead. A one two between Judge and Hughes on the right gave Hughes the space to fire a low ball into the box behind the retreating Dublin defence and Fahrudin Kudozovic was there to slot it home of the inside of the post.
 
Rovers were in the ascendancy and could have added to their tally when Gary Curran played a pinpoint pass through to Mansaram who ran onto it but fired a shot that was deflected narrowly wide.

The pressure continued and the Bit O’Red went two ahead after thirty six minutes with a little piece of magic from Matt Judge. The Dubliner chested down a Mansaram flick-on, feigned a shot on the edge of the box, but instead, back-heeled to the incoming Gary Curran who calmly side-footed to the right of the keeper.

Dublin City came out with the greater fire in the second half but they failed to trouble Rovers at the back, except for some efforts from distance from Mark Rooney. Sean Connor’s charges continued to look potent on the counter with Matt Judge proving tricky and Mansaram posing an ever present threat to the Vikings back line.

Gary Curran showed some lovely touches, regularly splitting the visitors defence and getting up as the game drew to close to link with Matt Judge, but his shot didn’t match the quality of the build up.
Next up for Rovers is the long trip to Waterford, on Friday next, where Connor’s men will be hoping to continue their great form.
 
Teams

Sligo Rovers
John O’Hara, Gavin Peers, Liam Burns, Michael McNamara, Chris Turner, Fahrudin Kudozovic, Conor O’Grady, Gary Curran, Adam Hughes, Paul McTiernan (Matt Judge 12 mins), Darren Mansaram (Jason McCartney 82 mins)
Subs not used Richard Brush, Jamie McKenzie, Sean Kelly

Dublin City
Gary Rogers, Damien Brennan, Keith Doyle, Alan Keely (Paul Shields HT), Ben Whelehan, Gavin McDonnell, Paul Crowley (Mick O’Donnell HT), Derek Pender, Stuart Malcolm, David Freeman, Mark Rooney,
Subs not used: Robbie O’Neill, , Hugh Davey, David Ennis

Ref: Richie Winter

Bookings

Sligo Rovers: Fahrudin Kudozovic

Dublin City: Derek Pender


by Paraic Casey