Sligo Rovers 3 - 0 UCD
Credit:
Sligo Rovers continued their fine run of form with a 3-0 victory over UCD at The Showgrounds on Monday night. First half goals from Mark Quigley and Pascal Millien and a second half goal from Romauld Boco extended Sligo’s lead at the top of the table.
Ian Baraclough made two changes to the side that defeated Shelbourne 3-1 on Friday. Alan Keane and Danny Ventre dropped to the bench in place of Lee Lynch and Joseph Ndo. There was also a couple of changes to Martin Russell’s side with Paul Corry and Daniel Ledwith in the starting eleven in place of Barry McCabe and Sean Russell.
Displaying some excellent football on the night, Sligo Rovers had the best of the early possession and created several chances in the early stages. Joseph Ndo was at his best providing a number of excellent balls but the hosts were unable to convert any move into a goal.
The breakthrough came on 38 minutes when the impressive Pascal Millien slipped the ball to Romauld Boco. The Benin international then gave the ball to Quigley who made no mistake and slotted in past Mark McGinley to put the league leaders ahead. That goal making it seven goals in six games for the striker.
Just two minutes later, Rovers doubled their lead. Mark Quigley was once again involved, supplying Haitian Pascal Millien who just had Mark McGinley to beat and that he did. He injured himself when taking the goal meaning he couldn’t do his fancy celebration, and his night had to end there.
The Students saw very little of the ball in the first half and captain Mick Leahy came closest to hitting the target. His header from a UCD corner failed to trouble Gary Rogers in goal, but an effort nonetheless.
The second half was a quieter affair, but the home side were still on top. Ambitious efforts from Mark Quigley and David Cawley were well off target but the build up play was superb.
On 76 minutes, Martin Russell’s side found themselves trailing by three goals to nil. Quigley was again involved in the build up and his ball to Ross Gaynor was passed on to Romauld Boco whose stunning strike beat Mark McGinley in goal to extend Sligo’s lead.
There was no sign of any sort of a comeback for UCD, who struggled to create any real chances. In the dying minutes of the game, Mark Quigley sent a ball down the field to Raffaele Cretaro but he could only hit it straight at a UCD player with the resulting corner amounting to nothing..
That was the last opportunity of the game and a deserved 3-0 win for the bit o’Red who maintain their position at the top of the Airtricity Premier Division.
Sligo Rovers: Gary Rogers; Seamus Conneely, Gavin Peers, Jason McGuinness, Ross Gaynor; Pascal Millien (Raffaele Cretaro, 44), David Cawley (Ryan Connolly, 83), Lee Lynch, Romauld Boco (Liam Buchanan, 78), Joseph Ndo; Mark Quigley.
Subs Not Used: Richard Brush, Jeff Henderson, Alan Keane, Danny Ventre.
Booked: Boco (74).
UCD: Mark McGinley; Hugh Douglas, Michael Leahy, David O’Connor (Tomas Boyle, 88), Ciaran Nangle; Dean Clarke (Gary Burke, 64), Paul O’Conor, Paul Corry, David McMillan, Daniel Ledwith (Sean Russell, 46); Robert Benson.
Subs Not Used: Gerard Barron, James Kavanagh, Barry McCabe, Chris Lyons.
Booked: None.
Referee: Paul McLaughlin.
Attendance: 2,375
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Mark Quigley (Sligo Rovers).
