BY CONALL COLLIER

Sligo Rovers took the Women’s Premier Division points home from the Regional Sports Centre on Saturday with a hard-earned 2-1 victory against hosts Waterford for their first away win of the season.

Cara Jordan and Sydney Stephens scored the first-half goals and Waterford pulled one back through Olivia Shannon close to the interval.

This was a determined effort from Sligo Rovers, especially in the second-half when they battened down the hatches and survived some high-intensity Waterford pressure.

Leah Kelly and Emma Hansberry came back into the starting 11 and both made solid contributions while Manu Baptista Filipe won plenty of possession and, more importantly, held possession at crucial times as both Jordan and Stephens pushed forward at every opportunity.

The Bit O’Red, with the benefit of the wind, dominated the opening half and forged ahead as early as the seventh minute when Cara Jordan made an opening for the lead goal following a quick corner.

Alana Doherty was narrowly wide soon after when she got a touch from another corner, but there was a setback for Sligo Rovers on 36 minutes when Sabrina Hillyer was forced off after she sustained a heavy knock in a challenge near the sideline.

Ava Hallinan deputised and Sligo Rovers continued to press forward with a second goal arriving in the 39^th minute when Sydney Stevens timed her run to the far post to head home Jordan’s accurate cross.

However, some hesitant defending paved the way for Waterford’s Olivia Shannon to reduce the deficit in the 41^st minute.

Waterford had early chances in the second half but Bonnie McKiernan saved well from substitute Lauryn Egbuloniu, returning to action after a lengthy injury, and Fiana Bradley.

Waterford continued to capitalise on possession gifted by the opposition and Egbuloniu was narrowly wide in the 67^th minute.

Sligo Rovers had a gilt-edged chance for a third goal when Anna McDaniel blazed over from about six yards in the 76^th minute as the ball held up in the wind following a speculative effort from Manu Baptista Filipe.

Waterford pressed for an equaliser, but were unable to make a breakthrough as Sligo Rovers picked up a first away win of the season.

Waterford – Maeve Williams; Jessica Lawlor, M Doherty, Danielle Burke, Leah O’Donoghue, Olivia Shannon, Mia Lenihan, Fiana Bradley, L Walsh, Kaytlin Conroy, C Carey. Subs – Lauryn Egbuloniu for Shannon and Chloe Atkinson for Lawlor both 58 mins, Kira Burke for Conroy and S Dumevi for Carley both 73m, Emma Bibby for Lenihan 82m.

Sligo Rovers – Bonnie McKiernan; Leah Kelly, Alana Doherty, Kelsey McQuillan, Sabrina Hillyer, Emma Hansberry, Cara Jordan, Manu Baptista Filipe, Sydney Stephens, Cara King, Anna McDaniel. Subs – Ava Hallinan for Hillyer 36 mins, Alice Lillie for McQuillan 65m, Paula McGrory for King and Katie Melly for Doherty both 87m.

Referee – Ian O’Keeffe.

Assistant-referees – Jason Ray, Jamie Purcell.

Fourth official – Lucas Keating.