Wexford Youths 0
Sligo Rovers 5
SLIGO ROVERS MOVED to sixth place in the Premier Division table after a rout of Wexford Youths in Ferrycarrig Park.
Goals from Raffaele Cretaro, Daniel Kearns, Achille Campion and a brace for Kieran Sadlier made light work of relegation-threatened Wexford Youths.
Rovers hit the front inside the first two minutes. Midfielder Sadlier picked up the ball in the Youths half and his through ball saw Cretaro fire past Youths keeper Graham Doyle at the near post.
Youths striker Danny Furlong had a chance to level on eight minutes, but couldn’t beat visiting keeper Michael Schlingermann when put through on goal by Shane Dunne. Furlong then linked up with Lee Grace before crossing for Paul Murphy but the striker couldn’t get a touch on the ball at the near post as Schlingermann.
The home side continued to create chances as they searched for the leveller. Chris Kenny came closest to leveling just after the half hour from Conor O’Keefe’s pinpoint cross from the right, but it came crashing back from Schlingermann’s crossbar.
A second half masterclass from Sligo Rovers ensued. They doubled their lead seven minutes after the restart. Youths centre back Stephen Last lost possession on the left side of his penalty area to Kearns. He charged toward goal, but saw his first effort saved, before following up to slot home the rebound.
The visitors kept the pressure on with two goals in three minutes ending the contest. Sadlier found Cretaro inside the penalty area and he crossed to the back post for substitute and debutant Achille Campion to make it 3-0.
It didn’t end there as three became four through Sadlier. Gary Delaney fouled Tobi Adebayo-Rowling just outside the Youths penalty area, and his superb free kick wrong-footed keeper Doyle to make it 4-0.
It was to get even better for the visitors as Cretaro found the run of Sadlier inside the Youths area with eight minutes to go – he sent two defenders the wrong way at the near post with a smart turn and dummy, before firing past Doyle at his near post to complete the comprehensive 5-0 win and move Sligo Rovers to sixth in the table.
Wexford Youths: Graham Doyle; Conor O’Keefe, Gary Delaney (Andrew O’Connor 72), Stephen Last, Lee Grace; Shane Dunne, Jonny Bonner (Shane Dempsey 72), Chris Kenny, Paul Murphy (Aidan Keenan 65); Andy Mulligan; Danny Furlong.
Sligo Rovers: Michael Schlingermann; Pat McCann, Mick Leahy, Gary Boylan, Tobi Adebayo-Rowling; Kieran Sadlier, Craig Roddan; John Russell (Phil Roberts 78), Liam Martin, Daniel Kearns (Achille Campion 64); Raffaele Cretaro (Mikey Place 84).
Referee: Jim McKell
