By Conall Collier

Sligo Rovers failed to capitalise on numerous chances as they were edged out by DLR Waves in the tightly-contested Women’s Premier Division (WPD) encounter at the Carlisle Grounds in Bray on Saturday evening.

DLR substitute Amber Cullen scored with her first touch in the 60th minute after some hesitant defending by the Bit O’Red and that was sufficient as the Dublin women battened down the hatches for the remainder.

DLR survived an onslaught from the Bit O’Red to earn a first win of the season in this basement battle that will see the teams meet again in the WFAI Cup in a fortnight.

Both sides enjoyed periods of dominance in a scoreless opening 45 minutes with DLR’s best chance arriving midway through the half when Michelle Doonan raced through, but she was denied by a Bonnie McKiernan save.

At the other end Leah Kelly and Anna McDaniel missed opportunities for the Bit O’Red on 16 and 18 minutes and that ultimately proved costly.

DLR also looked tentative under the high ball and ‘keeper Eve Badana was fortunate to avoid conceding a goal, but it also required a timely intervention by Lauren Devaney close to the interval to keep the Sligo Rovers goal intact.

DLR Waves enjoyed the better of the early second-half exchanges and were rewarded with that lead goal.

Sligo Rovers countered immediately and Katie Melly had a fine effort saved in the 63rd minute while Bonnie McKiernan denied Michelle Doonan for a second time soon after.

Steve Feeney introduced Muireann Devaney, Paula McGrory and Rebecca McIntyre with about 25 minutes remaining and that saw the pressure increased on the hosts with Anna McDaniel and Emma Hansberry both going close.

However, DLR held on in a frantic four minutes of added time to pick the three points and close the gap on the Bit O’Red at the bottom of the table.

DLR Waves – Eve Badana; Leah Donnelly, Chloe McCarthy, Keelin Dodd,
Jess Gleeson, Rachel Doyle, Neema Nyangasi, Amber Cosgrove, Cliodhna Donnelly, Michelle Doonan, Eve Conheady. Subs – Amber Cullen for Dodd 60 mins, Nadine Cleary for Conheady 78m, Taylor White for Cosgrove and Lauren Strong for Doonan both 85m.

Sligo Rovers – Bonnie McKiernan; Leah Kelly, Eimear Lafferty, Keeva Flynn, Alana Doherty, Lauren Devaney, Emma Hansberry, Katie Melly, Kya McKenna, Cara King, Anna McDaniel. Subs – Muireann Devaney for Doherty, Paula McGrory for L Devaney and Rebecca McIntyre for McKenna all 68 mins, Róise Burke for Kelly 81m.

Referee – Jason Moore.
Assistant-referees – John Hanney, Conor Harkin.
Fourth official – Christopher Daly.