| Kudozovic the hero once more |
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| Sunday, 01 April 2007 | |
 Fahrudin Kudozovic was the hero for the second weekend in a row when he sealed Rovers first victory over UCD in more than a decade with a deserved late goal today in The Showgrounds. The win moves the Bit O'Red up to third in the table.
Report courtesy of www.fai.ie eircom League of Ireland Sligo Rovers 1 - 0 UCD Sun 1 Apr, 5.00pm, The Showgrounds Fahrudin Kudozovic was the hero once again for Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds, as his last minute goal earned them all three points against UCD. The Bosnian, a week after claiming the only goal in Rovers’ defeat of Longford, struck superbly in the first minute of injury-time to condemn winless UCD to their third defeat of the season. The home side were without suspended midfielder Conor O’Grady and the injured trio of Brian Cash, Gary Curran and Matthew Judge, but welcomed Rafael Cretaro back from suspension. He slotted straight in for O’Grady in the only change from the team that beat Longford Town last time out, although Chris Turner was on the bench having returned from international duty with the Northern Ireland U21s. UCD boss Alan Mahon favoured Matt Cregg in goal ahead of Darren Quigley, while Paul Crowley was introduced to the team that lost to Cork last week. The glorious Sligo sunshine could not spark any life into a scrappy first-half, although the Students almost took an unlikely lead five minutes before the break. There looked little danger when Shane McFaul cut inside from the right, but he spectacularly curled a shot with the outside of his right foot that dipped over keeper Richard Brush, but bounced back off the crossbar. Earlier Sligo went closest through a couple of corners, one which Cretaro drove wide, and another which was headed over by Gavin Peers. But the game did spark to life after the restart. Rovers’ Scottish winger Stephen Manson was put through by Choice Aisien’s clever header, but his shot deflected off Cregg’s out-stretched leg and went for a corner. His team-mate on the opposite wing, Jason McCartney, then twice went close to opening the scoring. He pounced on the rebound in the box when Cregg blocked Cretaro’s effort, but although the youngster got his shot on target, McFaul was back on the line covering and he cleared with his head. Sligo failed to capitalise on a succession of corners before caretaker boss Leo Tierney threw Piotr Bajzdiak and Turner on to try and force an opener. The home side continued to press and Turner and then Manson sent inviting balls across the face of goal after cutting into the box, but Rovers couldn’t get the vital touch. Boosted by these let-offs, UCD regained their confidence and began to reassert themselves. They continued to look for big striker Conor Sammon with direct balls, but the closest the striker came to troubling Brush was a weak header that rolled into the keeper’s hands. Rovers’ cause wasn’t helped by a leg injury to centre-back Peers, who was rushed to hospital, forcing Tierney to hand a debut to Kevin Julian, while the home side let their frustrations get the better of them and had Manson and Turner yellow-carded. UCD then went closest to winning it on 70 minutes as a disputed free was awarded to the visitors at the edge of the area. Alan Mahon brilliantly curled it low around the wall and past Brush, but it smacked off the post and bounced away to safety. But Rovers had the last laugh when Kudozovic raced onto Bajzdiak’s ball 30 seconds into injury-time and deftly pushed his shot beyond Cregg and into the empty net. Sligo Rovers: Richard Brush, Seamus Coleman, Jamie MacKenzie (c), Gavin Peers (Kevin Julian 72), Keith Foy, Stephen Manson, Rafael Cretaro, Adam Hughes, Jason McCartney (Chris Turner 54), Fahrudin Kudozovic, Choice Aisien (Piotr Bajzdiak 54). Subs not used: Tomislav Arcaba, Sean Kelly. UCD: Matt Cregg, Alan Mahon, Evan McMillan, Alan McNally, Conor Kenna, Paul Crowley, Conan Byrne, Shane McFaul, Derek Doyle (Paul Byrne 70), Conor Samon, Ronan Finn. Subs not used: Brian King, Killian Gallagher, Shane Fitzgerald, Darren Quigley. Referee: Richie Winter. |
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