THE POST-JOHN Coleman era began with a defeat for Sligo Rovers this evening, as they were put to the sword by Drogheda United.
The visitors took the lead in the first half through Fabio O’Brien, before Stephen Maher struck after the re-start to make it 2-0.
The game took a while to get going, with neither side really having any clear-cut chances in the opening few minutes. The visitors forced a save from Gary Rogers early on when Gavan Holohan’s shot was hit straight at the Meath man. It was only cleared as far as the 22-year-old, who sent it over.
Rogers was again forced into action shortly afterwards, when Holohan’s corner was the cause of a mighty goalmouth scramble, with the Meath man just pushing the ball away from goal, before Danny Ledwith nearly notched an own goal.
Damien Richardson’s side then took the lead on the 34th minute. Former Hull City man Holohan did excellently to make his way into the box, before he squared it to Fabio O’Brien who flicked the ball over Rogers to break the deadlock.
Later, goalkeeper Rogers was once again the hero for Rovers, when he just got his fingertips to a header from O’Brien from a Holohan corner. Damien Richardson’s men continued to apply pressure on the manager-less Rovers, and extended their lead on the 64th minute. Stephen Maher latched on to a Seamus Conneely backpass, and sent it low and hard past Rogers to make it 2-0.
Former Drogheda man Paul O’Conor made an impact when coming on, and he came close twice in the dying few minutes, but saw both of his efforts deflected wide.
The result means Drogs move up to seventh place.
SLIGO ROVERS: Rogers, Boylan, Peers (Keating, 90), McMillan, Davoren (O’Conor, 64), Cretaro, Conneely, Cawley, Ledwith, North, Zayed (Armstrong, 64).
Subs: Taheny, Flatley, McManus, Brush.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Schlingermann, Doyle, McNally, McGuigan, Grimes, McGlynn (Wixted, 68), Holohan, Daly, Maher (Walshe, 80), Brennan, O’Brien.
Subs: Connolly, O’Connor, Kierans, Andrews, Brady.
Referee: Rob Rogers