Sligo Rovers 0 – 1 Waterford

Sligo Rovers were undone by Christie Pattison’s 46th minute strike as the Bit O’Red were beaten by Waterford at the Showgrounds. 

Following a 15 minute delay to kick-off due to an issue with the pitch, a competitive opening period ensued between two sides eager to take the spoils. 

Max Mata nodded a Reece Hutchinson cross wide after five minutes, while both Ben McCormack and Connor Parsons skied respective efforts at the opposite end.

The game’s first real chance arrived on 20 minutes when Pattisson found the roaming Parsons in space. The wide man pulled a superb save out of Ed McGinty at the goalkeeper’s near post.

A number of injuries to the Sligo squad meant Rovers were only able to name one experienced first-team player on their bench. 

It was the hosts who ended the opening 45 the stronger. Stefan Radosavljevic and Connor Malley going close to an opener. While Grant Horton managed to sweep Mata’s effort off the visitor’s goal-line after both Malley and Ellis Chapman had both threatened in the build up.

The second half was just seconds old when Waterford took the lead. Pattison crashing a thundering right-footed half-volley beyond McGinty after Rowan McDonald’s cross found the wide-man in space. 

Rovers pressed for the equaliser late on and went close again courtsey of Mata and Charlie Wiggett. While McGinty pulled off a wonderful late stop to deny former Rovers man Padraig Amond late on.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Charlie Wiggett, Ollie Denham, Ellis Chapman (Owen Elding 71); JR Wilson, Reece Hutchinson; Niall Morahan, Connor Malley; Rein Smit, Max Mata, Stefan Radosavljevic (Fabrice Hartmann 71). 

Waterford: Sam Sargeant; Darragh Power, Grant Horton, Kacper Radkowski, Darragh Leahy; Dean McMenamy (Niall O’Keefe 75), Ben McCormack (Connor Evans 84), Rowan McDonald; Christie Pattison (Maleace Asamoah 72), Connor Parsons; Padraig Amond. 

Referee: Gavin Colfer. 

Attendance: 2,087.