Sligo Rovers 3
Athlone Town 1
SLIGO ROVERS REGAINED fifth spot in the Airtricity Premier Division with a 3-1 win over Athlone Town.
Second half goals from John Russell and Evan McMillan (2) sealed all three points for John Coleman’s men, before an 88th minute consolation for Athlone through Sam O’Connor.
The home side dominated the opening stages and had three decent opportunities in the first few minutes. First, Iarfhlaith Davoren came close from a Darly Kavanagh ball, but his effort deflected off an Athlone man and went out for a corner. The resulting corner was swung in by David Cawley, and defender Kalen Spillane skied it over the bar.
West Ham loanee Seani Maguire then came close when he surged forward and shot just outside the box, unfortunately for the Kilkenny man it was straight at Athlone ‘keeper Ryan Coulter, who saved easily.
Although the opening few minutes looked promising, the game soon turned into a dull affair, and neither side created any clear-cut chances. Keith Long’s side had their best opportunity towards the closing stages of the first-half when an Eric Foley corner came to Philip Gorman, who steered it wide of the post.
John Coleman’s men did eventually take the lead in the 47th minute when the ball broke to John Russell on the edge of the box and he fired past Coulter in goal.
Eamon Zayed could have, and probably should have made it 2-0 when he shot on the volley from a Cawley corner, but he couldn’t keep his effort down.
The home side extended their lead on the 83rd minute through Evan McMillan. John Russell’s corner was floated in perfectly for McMillan, who headed past Coulter.
It was McMillan again who had the ball in the back of the net in the 86th minute, when he headed in a David Cawley corner.
The visitors pulled one back in the dying minutes through new signing Sam O’Connor following a Philip Gorman flick-on, but the game was already over.
SLIGO ROVERS: Rogers, Keane, McMillan, Spillane, Davoren (Ledwith, 13), Maguire, Cawley, Conneely, Russell, Kavanagh (Keating, 72), Zayed (Donelon, 87),
Subs: Brush, Odhiambo, O’Conor, Peers.
ATHLONE TOWN: Coulter, Hayes, Prendergast, Byrne (Dunne, 84), Knight, Mulroy (O’Brien, 61), Foley, Hughes (O’Connor, 78), Doyle, Dillon, Gorman.
Subs: Skinner, Collins, Sweeney, Mulroney.
Referee: Ray Mathews.