League Report: St Patrick's Athletic 2 - 1 Sligo Rovers

Andrew Dempsey reports from Richmond Park

St Patrick’s Athletic re-kindled their Europa League ambitions thanks to a late David Webster winner after a strong second-half display.

Romeo Parkes sent the Bit o’ Red one clear midway through the opening period before Glen McAuley scored his first league goal for the club early on in the second half.

Webster was on hand to head home Lennon’s free-kick home six minutes from tie to secure a huge win for Harry Kenny’s side. 

The early exchanges of the game were littered with plenty of sloppy play, with Glen McAuley proving to be a real bright spark with his lively play causing some early issues for the visitors.

Former Longford Town forward Gary Shaw had the first real shot in anger of the half as he just saw his effort flash wide of goal after some good play on the right flank, but Edward McGinty had it well covered.

Parkes then had a glorious chance to give his side the lead moments after, but he could only skew his effort wide after a good bit of build-up play from Liam Buckley’s charges. 

After an uneventful opening 20 minutes, Sligo Rovers took the lead through the aforementioned Parkes who scored his eighth of the season with a smart finish at the near post.

Kris Twardek got free on the right-hand side before slotting the ball into the path of the Jamaican striker who made no mistake from eight yards out.

The Saints responded well to going a goal behind, with McGinty forced into a good save from Shaw’s glancing header after McAuley’s cross from deep. 

Shaw went eve closer moments later as he tried to scramble a Dean Clarke delivery home, but he was unable to steer his effort on goal to the dismay of an increasingly frustrated home support.

The Bit o’ Red, despite looking comfortable for the majority of the opening period, were fortunate to go in at the break one clear thanks to a superb John Mahon block as Dean Clarke looked set to score for the Athletic.

Having gone in behind to a few murmurs of discontent, the Saints began the second half well and were unfortunate to not go level as Clarke saw Lewis Banks clear with a last-ditch attempt tackle.

With the pressure ratcheting up more and more, the Saints got the equaliser that their early second-half play merited.

McAuley, making his first senior start since returning home from Liverpool, fired home his first senior goal after being fed in by Darragh Markey from deep.

The Saints continued their dominance as were very unfortunate to not take the lead as Lewis Banks made a huge block to deny Cian Coleman, who looked set to score.

However, despite being in control of the game, Pats coughed up a great opportunity with Twardek shooting wide with just over ten minutes to play after a glorious series of play that saw Ronan Murray and Banks combine well on the right flank.

Clarke and Lee Desmond then went close moments later, but they were unable to make their chances pay, failing to trouble McGinty in the Sligo goal.

However, their dominance paid off with just over five minutes of normal time remaining, as Webster headed home a Lennon free-kick to see the hosts grab a deserved winner.

There was further drama to come very late on as Twardek went close, but Brendan Clarke was able to see the ball clear for the hosts, in turn securing a morale-boosting win for the Saints.

St. Patrick's Athletic: Brendan Clarke; Ian Bermingham, Lee Desmond, Kevin Toner, David Webster; Cian Coleman, Jamie Lennon, Darragh Markey; Dean Clarke, Glen McAuley (Jake Walker 89), Gary Shaw (Ronan Hale 77).

Subs not used: Barry Murphy (gk), Simon Madden, Darragh Burns, Rhys McCabe, James Doona.

Booked: Dean Clarke (41), Kevin Toner (58).

Sligo Rovers: Edward McGinty; John Mahon, Dante Leverock, John Dunleavy (John Russell 75), Lewis Banks; Kyle McFadden (Sam Warde 61), Daryl Fordyce, David Cawley; Kris Twardek, Romeo Parkes, Regan Donelon (Ronan Murray 65). 

Subs not used: Luke McNicholas (gk), Brian Morley, Rónán Coughlan, Niall Watson. 

Booked: Lewis Banks (41), David Cawley (61), Romeo Parkes (65), Edward McGinty (72).

Referee: John McLaughlin.

Attendance: 1,217.

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Jamie Lennon (St Patrick’s Athletic).