Sligo Rovers recovered from that seven goal defeat at Drogheda United in perfect fashion as they saw off Waterford at the Showgrounds. A goal in either half from Wilson Waweru and Simon Power saw the Bit O’Red pick up their first win in three and propelled Rovers into third, behind title chasers Derry City and Shelbourne.
With just goal difference separating them and three points meaning the victor would elevate themselves to that European spot, both camps were aware of the value of a win.
The hosts made one change from a chastening trashing in Louth eight nights previous, with 19-year-old Buncrana native Gareth McElroy handed his senior debut in the heart of the Sligo defence, in place of Charlie Wiggett.
With four defeats in their previous five league outings and without manager Keith Long courtesy of suspension, the visitors made one switch from defeat to Derry last week. Connor Parsons replaced Grant Horton as the RSC side chased a much needed result on the road.
The travelling Blues should have been ahead after just 90 seconds.
Rovers allowed former striker Padraig Amon through on goal. The Carlow man’s initial effort was repelled by Ed McGinty into the path of Christie Pattison who failed to make contact with the ball from four yards out.
Sligo certianly didn’t look like a side coming off the back of a seven goal trouncing as they came up with some of their best football of the year.
Key to this was winger Power who twice went close with efforts from out wide, while Ellis Chapman was able to lift the ball over Waterford goalkeeper Louis Jones on 12 minutes. Chapman was left despondent however as his effort dropped wide of Jones’ goal.
Both sides had chances in quick succession close to the quarter hour. Power again went close from a wide angle, while Amond’s header from a Ryan Burke cross hung in the air before falling wide of McGinty’s posts seconds later.
Sligo opened the scoring on 18 minutes and went on to dominate the remainder of the half. Jones got a hand to a Connor Malley header from a Will Fitzgerald corner but could only bat the ball onto the foot of Waweru who rifled the ball to the roof of the net from close range.
Power had a looping header taken off the Waterford line in added time at the end of the half. While McElroy had to get in front of Amond’s effort at the front post eight minutes into the second period.
Waweru went close to Rovers’ second on 55. Jones produced a decent two-handed stop to deny the former Galway man’s header from a wonderful Power cross.
Power himself threatened that second goal twice in the space of a few minutes. He first tested Jones from 25 yards, before firing over from the angle four minutes later.
Debutant McElroy then nodded narrowly wide from a Power corner on 68 as Sligo again pressed although Pattison wasn’t too far away at the far end on the following attack, slipping a shot beyond McGinty’s post.
Power was finally rewarded for his impressive showing on 73 minutes when he nodded Fitzgerald’s ball into the bottom corner of Jones’ goal.
The former Shamrock Rovers winger was then denied his brace. Malley forced the ball towards the Wicklow native who was stopped by Jones’ outstretched leg.
The home support were sure Chapman had their third seven minutes from time when he picked up Fitzgerald’s through ball. Chapman had the hard work done when he rounded Jones but Waterford defender Kacper Radkowski somehow recovered in time to pull off a magnificent last ditch block to deny the former Cheltenham attacker.
Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; JR Wilson, Gareth McElroy, Ollie Denham, Reece Hutchinson; Niall Morahan (Jack Henry-Francis 88), Connor Malley; Will Fitzgerald, Ellis Chapman, Simon Power (Stephen Mallon 77); Wilson Waweru (Luke Pearce 64).
Waterford: Louis Jones; Darragh Power (Dean McMenamy HT), Kacper Radkowski, Darragh Leahy, Ryan Burke; Barry Bagley, Sam Glenfield (Grant Horton HT), Rowan McDonald (Ben McCormack 81); Conor Parsons (Joseph Forde 71), Christie Pattisson (Gbemi Arubi 71); Padraig Amond.
Referee: Paul Norton.
Attendance: 2,432
David Goulden