Sligo Rovers 2 - St Patrick's Athletic 0New signings Eoin Doyle and Matthew Blinkhorn got their first goals for Sligo Rovers, as the Bit O' Red closed to within two points of St Patrick's Athletic in the league. Doyle fired home the opener just 18 minutes into his debut after being set up by Conor O'Grady. And striker Blinkhorn doubled the lead on the hour-mark with his first goal for the club in just his second start. The visitors made two enforced changes from the team that started in Malta midweek, with Damien Lynch and Alan Cawley coming in for the suspended Jason Gavin and Enda Stevens. The Rovers 11 showed six changes from the team beaten by Shamrock Rovers last time out, with two new additions - Joe Kendrick and Doyle - handed starts. And Doyle immediately endeared himself to the Bit O' Red faithful by racing onto Conor O'Grady's flick and curling a beautiful shot past the helpless Gary Rogers. O'Grady himself could have put the home side ahead after just 13 minutes, when he found space through the middle and advanced into the area. Rogers got down well, however, to make the save. Rovers enjoyed dominance in the opening period against a Pat's side that looked tired from their European exploits. But the Dubliners did create one other decent chance of note in the opening period, with Stephen Maher's cross headed across goal and wide by Declan O'Brien. Gareth O'Connor then forced another diving save off Brush on 52 minutes, when he exchanged passes with Cawley before firing low and hard. Rovers had a decent chance when Morrison did well to win a free before being fouled on the right-hand side. Kendrick swung it in and the ball dropped to Alan Keane, whose well-struck shot was deflected away from goal. But Rovers did claim a second just before the hour-mark, when Morrison's trickery picked out Boco's run, and the Benin international teed-up Blinkhorn to score his first goal for the club. Pat's introduced Glen Fitzpatrick to try and force a way back into the game, and Guy tested Brush again after cutting in from the right. Cawley also saw a left-foot shot blocked by Keane and a free-kick saved by Brush, before Rovers assistant boss Gerry Carr and Pat's goalkeeping coach Jody Byrne were send to the stands for clashing on the sideline. Rovers substitute Rob Turner, booked less than 30 seconds after his introduction, almost claimed a third for the home side when he directed Dean Marshall's pass onto the crossbar, but nevertheless, Rovers deservedly secured their first win in seven league games. © rte.ie
