Sligo Rovers were 3-2 victors over Armagh City last night in what was their second game of pre season. This game was undoubtedly a much harder test for Rob Mc Donald’s side and a useful workout with the season due to start in just over 3 weeks time.

Rovers started brightly and could have taken the lead as early as the 6th minute. A foul on midfielder Adam Hughes gave Raf Cretaro the opportunity to whip in a dangerous ball from the right and it was Hughes who had the header but unfortunately it was just wide. Seven minutes later again it was a Cretaro set piece which brought danger on the Armagh City defence. This time is was Conor O’ Grady with the chance to mark his return with a goal. However he placed the free header wide of Shane Donnelly’s goal.

Armagh had their first opening in the game in the 15th minute. Excellent play by front man James Slater resulted in a low cross for Tomislav Arcaba to deal with, he did just that and grasped to ball to thwart any on rushing attacker. From here Rovers took the lead, a long kick forward from the Australian caused confusion in the City defence and pressure from Jason Mc Cartney forced defender Johnny Walker to head the ball over the keeper and the ball trickled into the net. The Irish Premier Division side could have been level minutes later. The ball was played through to Francis Mc Cann and he confidently stroked the ball home. However the linesman ruled the goal out for offside in what looked the be the correct decision.

The open nature of the 1st half continued as both teams exchanged chances. Excellent play by Rovers’ best played in the half Cretaro allowed Conor O’ Grady to poke the ball through to Fahrudin Kudozivic but his shot lacked any conviction and failed to trouble the Armagh goalkeeper. Then a mistake by Kevin Julian allowed Armagh’s Conor Forker a run on goal but he dragged his shot wide of Arcaba’s goal. In the 26th minute Rovers showed the kind of football their 4-3-3 system can produce as a free flowing move involving 6 players took the ball from one side of the pitch to the other.It ended with a Mc Cartney cross being deflected out for a corner but it came to nothing and an entertaining opening 30 minutes came to an end.

Rovers continued to create chances from crosses and set pieces as the half went on. Kudozivic missed a good chance from a corner and Adam Hughes did likewise after good work from right-back Seamus Coleman. Central striker Choice Aisien showed why his manager expects big things from his this season as he showed great control to pick up the ball outside the Armagh box, turned exquisitely, and struck a stinging shot which the goalkeeper tipped over the crossbar. The Nigerian showed plenty of promise in his 45 minutes on the pitch and following a 5 goal haul vs. Swinford it looks as if he is finding his feet for the Bit O’ Red.

Despite Sligo having more of the chances in the half Armagh went into the break level. Substitute Gavin Mc Mahon found himself free from any Rovers defender and he blasted the ball past Arcaba two minutes before half time. Into the 2nd half and Rob Mc Donald decided to make 4 changes at the start off the half. On came Gary Curran along with trialists Mick Duffy, Justin Keaney and Joey Maloney, who incidentally played for Rovers a number of years ago. The second half was not as eventful as the first and it took until the 57th minute for a decent chance to be carved out. It fell to Armagh and from it they took the lead. Again it was a sub who scored the goal, Shay Campbell. He embarked on a mazy run who took him one on one with the Rovers keeper and  he made no mistake as he blasted the ball into the net.

Rovers had their first good chance of the 2nd half just after Armagh took the lead. Maloney played the ball to Mick Duffy but it was a disappointing finish as he dragged the ball wide. The Mayo man made up for it in the 70 th minute. Again he received the ball from Maloney but this time his finish was emphatic as the trialist brought the team level. In the 76th minute a run forward by Seamus Coleman brought him all the way into the box but unfortunately he slipped just as he about to pull the trigger. Once again it was the impressive Coleman who was prominent in a Rovers attack minutes later as he got by his man and delivered a low cross for Duffy but his shot was not good enough to beat the Armagh substitute keeper .

Jamie Mc Kenzie looked to have spurned the chance for Rovers to win the game when his free header from an O’ Grady cross was headed wide in the 84th minute. However, just before full time the lively Duffy was fouled and Rovers were awarded a penalty. Sub Oisin Mannion confidently stepped forward he stroked the ball past the keeper leaving him rooted to the spot. Soon after the referee blew the final whistle in what had been a good test for the team as they build up their fitness in preparation for the March 9th kick off. Their next friendly is against Monaghan United this Sunday [ 18th Feb] in the Showgrounds. Kick off is 2.15 pm

Armagh City Donnelly (Pat Heaney 45 mins,) Walker ,  Cowan (Whitten 60,) , Latimer , McBirney (Cooke 60) Best (McMahon 30) O'Connor , A McCann ,F McCann (Mooney 55) Forker (Campbell 45)  Slater
 

Sligo Rovers  Arcaba , Coleman , Mc Kenzie , Julian , Kelly , O’ Grady , Kudozivic[ Maloney 45] , Hughes[ Keaney 45] , Cretaro [ Curran 45] , Mc Cartney [ Mannion 65] , Aisien [Duffy, 45]