Basement side UCD were unable to follow up on their first win of the season last week, as they fell 3-1 to Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds.
Well in control in the opening 45 courtesy of strikes from the Bit O'Red’s Max Mata and Fabrice Hartmann, the Students made things a little nervy for Rovers when they fired back courtesy of Mark Dignam on the stroke of half-time.
UCD did make things awkward for Rovers in the second half, but they didn’t have it in them to find the goals required to follow up their win over Cork City eight days previous.
Hartmann calming the Showgrounds’ nerves 14 minutes from full time when his shot took a wicked deflection off a defender on its way to the net.
With just five points gathered from their last five outings, Sligo manager John Russell made four changes from last week’s underwhelming draw with Drogheda United at the same venue.
Johan Brannefalk returned from injury, while there was place for Niall Morahan and Kailin Barlow. Former Bohs defender James Finnerty made his first appearance for Rovers, starting at centre half. While teenage prospects Eli Rooney and Owen Elding, son of 2013 FAI Cup final hero Anthony, were both named on the Rovers bench.
Looking to close the gap between themselves and the pack ahead, College made one change from their win over Cork City, with Alex Nolan returning in attack.
With one win and a draw taken from their last five games, the Students didn’t have the kind of start they would have hoped for.
Goalkeeper Kian Moore had to fall at Barlow’s feet to deny the Sligo town native after the net minder saw his attempted clearance blocked down by same man five minutes in. Things got worse 60 seconds later when unchallenged, Mata rose to nod Barlow’s corner past Moore for his eighth goal of the year.
Andy Meyler’s side then lost full back Evan Osam to injury and to compound the misery, Rovers hit a second on 25 minutes after Alex Nolan had tested Sligo goalkeeper Luke McNicholas at the opposite end.
A cute one-two down the right between Hartmann and Barlow created the space for the former to run on to the ball before smartly turning inside and tucking the ball beyond Moore with a tactful left footed finish.
Sligo remained well on top, creating two further chances before the break courtesy of Mata who twice headed narrowly wide.
The Dubliners were then handed a lifeline before the break when Dignam halved the deficit very much against the run of play. The midfielder lashing home with a sweetly struck first-time effort from the edge of the D on 45 minutes.
Seeking their first win in three, Rovers endured a nervy opening to the second period. Ciaran Behan curling an effort over the Sligo goal early on as the College looked like they might rattle their hosts further.
Mata saw a diving header swerve wide of Moore’s post from Greg Bolger’s ball forward just past the hour as Russell’s charges looked to settle the notable Showgrounds tension.
Dara Keane’s glancing header from a Behan set-piece was held by McNicholas shortly after, while Hartmann could only find the side netting after a speedy Sligo break away down the right flank on 67.
Sligo again tested Moore on 74 minutes when Hartmann picked out Niall Morahan 10 yards from goal. Moore doing well to get down in time to get gloves behind the Leitrim native’s stabbed effort.
Desperate for that insurance goal, Rovers finally lifted the tension on 76 minutes although there was more than a slice of luck involved.
Hartmann’s quick feet allowed him sail past two challenges as the German cut inside. The RB Leipzig loanee’s drive at goal took a big deflection off a UCD defender before looping over the unfortunate Moore for the winger’s third goal of the season.
Sligo Rovers: Luke McNicholas; Johan Brannefalk (Lukas Browning 83), James Finnerty, Nando Pijnaker, Reece Hutchinson; Niall Morahan, Greg Bolger; Will Fitzgerald (David Cawley 83), Kailin Barlow, Fabrice Hartmann (Frank Liivak 78); Max Mata 7 (Stefan Radosavljevic 88).
UCD: Kian Moore; Evan Osam (Daniel Norris 14), Adam Wells, Jack Keaney, Jesse Dempsey (Samuel Clarke 80); Brendan Barr, Mark Dignam; Alex Nolan, Dara Keane (Harry O’Connor 80), Ciaran Behan; Jake Doyle (Danu Kinsella-Bishop 63).
Referee: Paul McLaughlin.
