St Patrick's Athletic (0) - Sligo Rovers (1)

St Patrick's Athletic 0 - Sligo Rovers 1

An impressive Bank Holiday crowd of 4,265 were in attendance as both sides with aspirations of a European finish went head to head in hot and humid conditions at Richmond Park.

But it was the visitors who grabbed all three points thanks to a second half header from the League's top scorer, Max Mata.

We were treated to a breathtaking end to end opening in which the home side forced corner after corner, building up some decent situations but failed to really trouble Luke McNicholas.

The visitors slowly grew into the game and after 10 minutes had the clearest effort to date but Reece Hutchinson dragged his volley from the edge of the area just wide.

Hutchinson then turned provider for Kailin Barrow, but in a similar position provided the same result, just missing the foot of the post from 18-yards.

Midway through the first half, a combination of the humidity and long trips three days previous seemed to take hold as tempo slowed right down, becoming a battle of attrition.

Having caught their respective breaths at half time and with three points definitely there for the taking, the opening minutes mirrored the first half as the home side forced the issue but failed to threaten the visitors' goal.

Just before the hour mark the hosts were punished when fullback Johan Brannefalk raced down the right wing, standing up an inviting cross for Mata, the New Zealander powering a header home for his ninth of the season.

Saints boss Clancy swiftly looked to his bench in response to going behind, introducing two front men in the shape of Eoin Doyle, Serge Atakayi and Tommy Lonergan in a bid to regain a foothold in the game.

But entering injury time, the frustration boiled over when Eoin Doyle launched into a reckless challenge on Fitzgerald as the visitors kept the ball in the corner, rightfully receiving his marching orders.

Next on the agenda for Pat's is a long trip down South to face Cork City on Friday night, whilst Sligo Rovers will be looking for some home comforts as they welcome Dundalk to The Showgrounds.

© rte.ie

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St Patrick's Athletic 0 - Sligo Rovers 1

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