David Goulden at the Showgrounds
Match Day Sponsor: Callan Tansey Solicitors
Match Ball Sponsor: Sligo Branch of the Glasgow Celtic Supporters Club
Sligo Rovers’ old habits continued at the Showgrounds as they conceded in injury time at the end of their game with Drogheda United at the Showgrounds in what was new boss Darren Purse’s first game in charge.
The Bit O’Red had dug themselves out of a hole courtesy of a Cian Kavanagh brace after Thomas Oluwa had volleyed Drogs into the lead.
But Rovers, who finished the game with ten men, were unable to hold on and for the fourth time in five league outings, dropped points to an injury time goal as Shane Farell levelled the game in the 95th minute.
The result leaves Rovers anchored to the bottom of the table, while Drogheda remain four clear of Waterford in the play-off spot.
Without former manager John Russell in the home dugout for the first time in seven years following stints as both boss and assistant, Rovers and new man Purse made three changes from the Sligo side which knocked Janesboro out of the FAI Cup last week.
Skipper Will Fitzgerald came back in having missed that game in Limerick. While midfielder James McManus and centre half Gareth McElroy also returned.
United boss Kevin Doherty stuck with the same eleven which progressed past Lucan United in the cup. New signing Alfie Bates made the bench.
The visitors opened the scoring in this one but it was Rovers who threatened first on a drizzly evening in the north west.
Archie Meekison volleyed wide after five minutes after Fitzgerald’s cross was cleared out as far as the waiting Scot at the edge of the area.
Purse has been charged with tightening up one of the leakier defences in the division and he saw first hand how vulnerable Rovers have been in front of their own goal this term when Drogs went ahead.
Conor Kane’s cross found Oluwa unmarked in front of goal. Unmarked, the former Wexford striker easily swept Kane’s cross, first time, beyond Sam Sargeant.
Sligo’s veteran midfielder Carl McHugh let a speculative volley fly from 25 yards shortly after, as the hosts quickly settled back into this tie.
60 seconds later, they were level. Meekison was the supplier as Kavanagh took a touch to control the ball, before delivering a neat finish into the corner of Luke Dennison’s net for his third goal in two games.
Four minutes later, the Dubliner had his and Rovers’ second.
The build up was patient in front of the Drogheda area before McManus sprung a smart through ball to Luke Pearce just yards from the end-line. The ex-Cardiff man slotting the ball across to the back post for Kavanagh to knock home for his fifth goal of the season.
Kavanagh went agonisingly close to a hat-trick on the next Sligo attack, heading Fitzgerald’s corner on to the roof of the net.
Both sides pressed the other for periods early on in the second half without joy.
Indeed, the Showgrounds had to wait until the 75th minute for the next half chance when Sligo’s Jeannot Esua pulled off a smart one two with substitute Jamie McGonigle. McGonigle’s cross found the Cameroonian at the front post, but the full back got his attempted header all wrong as he mis-timed his effort and the chance was gone.
The Boynesiders then had their first sight of goal in the second half one minute later when Jason Bucknor’s cross from the left was deflected wide by a Sligo leg, the ball almost creeping inside Sargeant’s post.
The Louthmen thought they’d levelled the game in the first of the six minutes added at the end of the game, only for the referee’s assistant to flag for offside.
Their frustrations turned to joy however three minutes later when Farrell smartly turned away from a Sligo challenge before firing home as Rovers were left to deal with further late heartbreak.
Purse’s charges completed the game with ten men when Meekison swept the legs from under Bucknor as Drogheda went in search of a dramatic winner.
Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Ollie Denham, Sean McHale, Gareth McElroy; Jeannot Esua, Will Fitzgerald (Sean Stewart 69); James McManus (Ciaron Harkin 84), Carl McHugh; Archie Meekison; Luke Pearce (Jamie McGonigle 69), Cian Kavanagh (Ryan O’Kane 84).
Drogheda United: Luke Dennison; Edwin Agbaje, Conor Keeley, James Bolger, Conor Kane (Warren Davis 75); Brandon Kavanagh (Alfie Bates HT), Shane Farrell; Jason Bucknor, Mark Doyle (Keegan Ancelin 60), Ryan Brennan (Jago Godden 65); Thomas Oluwa.
Referee: Rob Hennessy
Attendance: 2,411