Monaghan United 0 - 1 Sligo Rovers

A 49th minute strike by Danny North was enough to give Sligo Rovers all three points against Monaghan United in Gortakeegan on Friday night. The victory keeps the Bit 'O' Red on the same points as Shamrock Rovers at the top of the table while Monaghan wait for their first win of the 2012 league campaign.

Both teams started with equal levels of determination but it was the visitors who shaded the opening exchanges. The first half failed to produce an opening goal but both teams came out fired up for the second half. Despite Monaghan United putting the early pressure on, it was Sligo Rovers who made the break through.

Sligo’s goal came in the 49^th minute when Raffaele Cretaro found prolific scorer Danny North in the box with loads of space and a confused home defence. North capitalised and found the back of the net past a previously unflappable Chris Bennion in the Monaghan goal. 

Bennion had proven his worth in the first half when he had tipped over a smashing volley from Lee Lynch to keep the scores even and he had managed to deal with everything that Sligo threw at him without much strain until the goal was conceded. 

Again Bennion was at the centre of the action when Ross Gaynor had a chance to stretch the Sligo lead in the 76^th minute. Bennion managed to block the ball with his feet and even though Gaynor tried again, Bennion had the measure of him. 

In the 80^th minute Monaghan United were blessed as it looked certain that Sligo were about to get their second goal of the night. Danny North had rounded Alan Byrne and sent the ball goalward only for Stephen Maher to get a touch to it.  Maher almost caused an own goal though as the ball curved dangerously towards the goal line at the far post. John Dillon ran onto it but Stephen Maher, making up for his mistake, threw himself at it and a tussle ensued before Bennion hurled himself on the ball like a soldier on a grenade.

Mons escaped further embarrassment when the ball spilled to the feet of  Ross Gaynor who smacked a thunderous half volley off the post and the ball almost spun into the net off Bennion but Willo McDonagh managed somehow to get a head to it and clear the danger. 

United’s substitute Owen Humphrey then had a chance at the other end of the pitch but the ball was cleared during a scramble in the box with Mons fans and players shouting handball but the referee Richie Winters flagged the game on. 

The game petered out towards the end with no real chances for either side but Roddy Collins will probably feel unhappy at his team’s inability to upset the odds.  This is the third week that Monaghan have played against top teams and they have proven that they are not as weak as pundits have been predicting in the pre-season build up but there is still some room for improvement. Next up for Monaghan United are fixtures against Fanad United in the EA Sports Cup on Monday, followed by UCD and Drogheda in the league. 

Sligo will have an opportunity to continue their dominance at the top of the Premier Division when they face Dundalk and Bray Wanderers in the coming weeks.

Monaghan United: Chris Bennion; Conor McMahon, Stephen Maher, Alan Byrne, Willo McDonagh; Robert Bayly, Conor Murphy, Garreth O’Connor, Keith Quinn; Jordan Keegan, Tony Griffiths.
Subs: Michael Schlingermann, Roddy Collins, Owen Humphrey, Darragh Reynor, Shane Dunne, Jason Marks.

Sligo Rovers: Gary Rogers; Romauld Boco, Gavin Peers, Jason McGuinness, Ross Gaynor; Danny Ventre, Iarfhlaith Davoren, Lee Lynch, Joseph Ndo; Danny North, Raffaele Cretaro. 
Subs: Richard Brush, David Cawley, John Dillon, Liam Martin, Mark McGoldrick, Marty Owens, Jason Dykes.

Referee: Richie Winters.

Attendance: 750.