DARREN MANSARAM was the Sligo Rovers hero on Friday night last as his last minute goal gave Rovers a dramatic 2-1 win against Waterford United – their seventh victory in this season’s eircom League Premier Division – at the RSC.

By Ger Lawton, courtesy, the Sligo Weekender

Rovers had to come from behind to snatch a deserved victory to delight their loyal band of travelling supporters.
The visitors began the game with their new signing and former Leeds United player, Harpel Singh, on the bench but the nippy winger did make his entrance in the second-half.
The game almost started perfectly for Sean Connor’s side as the travelling Rovers supporters were very nearly on their feet on two minutes when Gavin Peers found himself all alone at the back post and, in fairness from seven yards, he should have done better than find the top of the net.
Rovers had another great chance to take the lead six minutes later when Adam Hughes found Chris Turner at the back post, and, despite looking in an offside position, the flag stayed down and he picked out Darren Mansaram – but his effort also sailed over the bar when again he should have done better.
Rovers were made to regret those two missed chances just a minute later when Waterford United took the lead against the run of play.
It came from a corner from Darren Young which was added to by Daryl Kavanagh which allowed the ball to find Kenny Browne at the back post – he fired home from close-range to put the home side into lead.
After that it was all United as they took great heart from the opening goal and with the returning Alan Reynolds pulling the strings in the middle of the field United were well on top, much to the delight of the home crowd.
Rovers did create another very good chance on 31 minutes when a Gavin Peers cross found striker Matthew Judge at the back post before his cross was deflected into the path of Darren Mansaram, but a moment of hesitation allowed the Waterford goalkeeper, Ben Spicer, to come and collect the ball and snuff out the chance.
The same player had another chance four minutes later but, off balance, he shot straight at the goalkeeper.
That meant United when into the break in the lead for the first time this season after a fairly entertaining first-half.
The Rovers manager, Sean Connor, obviously had stiff words for his side at the interval because the visitors came out with all guns blazing at the start of the second-half.
They could so nearly have been in front on just three second-half minutes when Ben Spicer did well to paw away a Chris Turner free-kick with two Rovers players queuing up at the back post.
United, though, could so easily have doubled their advantage in the ninth minute when Ian Fraher found himself clean through on goal but his weak shot was easily saved by Rovers custodian John O’Hara.
Rovers fought back, however, and had two great chances in a minute. The first fell to Hughes who was denied by a very good save with his feet by the impressive Spicer, before Hughes was again in the thick of the action but his header was taken off the line by Stephen Grant.
With Rovers now well on top, Sean Connor took the chance to hand former Leeds United player, Harpel Singh, his debut, and he very nearly had a goal with his very first touch in the eircom League.
He went steaming through on the left and looked set to score before the United skipper, John Hayes, appeared out of nowhere to deny him with a tremendous last-gasp tackle.
Spicer again tipped over to deny Rovers after 19 minutes of the second-half before the pressure finally told and Rovers levelled the tie, which was no more than they deserved.
It stemmed from a Turner free-kick which found its way to Mansaram whose effort hit the crossbar but, luckily for Rovers, the rebound fell right into the path of Adam Hughes and he slotted home from close-range to bring his side level.
Having got their equaliser Rovers then went out of the tie as United came back into the game and they very nearly regained the lead in the 77th minute when a James Chambers effort, which took a deflection off Michael McNamara, came back off the inside of the post.
With the game now swinging from end to end in a very entertaining encounter, Adam Hughes must have thought that he had his second goal of the night only to be denied by the linesman’s flag.
Ben Spicer then looked as if he had secured a point for the home side with two minutes to go when he pulled off a great save to deny substitute John Bellew.
But it wasn’t to be as Sligo struck for the winner just a minute later when Bellew turned provider to find Darren Mansaram at the back post to head home to give Sligo their fifth win in the last six matches.

Waterford United: Ben Spicer, Patrick Flynn, Darren Young, Alan Reynolds, Kenny Browne, John Hayes, Ian Fraher, James Chambers, Gavin Doyle, Stephen Grant, Daryl Kavanagh
Sub used: Niall Irwin (for Ian Fraher)
Sligo Rovers: John O’Hara, Gavin Peers, Michael McNamara, Liam Burns, Conor O’Grady, Adam Hughes, Fahrudin Kudozovic, Darren Mansaram, Chris Turner, Gary Curran, Matt Judge
Subs used: Harpal Singh (for Gary Curran); John Bellew (for Matthew Judge)
Referee: Mark Gough (Limerick)