late Keith Ward strike sees Dundalk record a third league win in a row

SSE Airtricity Premier Division  

Sligo Rovers 0-1 Dundalk

Dundalk FC continued their revival as they made it three SSE Airtricity League wins on the bounce, with Keith Ward’s 84th-minute header securing a 1-0 win at Sligo Rovers. 

Sligo had the better of the first-half chances, with Will Fitzgerald’s cross being met by Max Mata’s header on 21 minutes, but Nathan Shepperd was on hand to save the effort.

The Bit O’Red should have made it 1-0 not long after that, when Johan Brannefalk broke to find Fabrice Hartmann, whose cross was almost turned home by the outstretched leg of Mata, who in what was a real let-off for The Lilywhites, saw his attempt trickle wide.

Dundalk’s best chance of the half came via Rayhaan Tulloch, whose shot from outside the box was pushed around the post by Luke McNicholas just past the half-hour mark.

After latching onto a Connor Malley pass, Patrick’s Hoban stung the hands of the Sligo goalkeeper soon after, but it was the hosts who looked the more dangerous after that.

Another Fitzgerald cross was met by the free header of Mata, who luckily for Dundalk, saw his attempt bounce up and over the crossbar, while Nando Pijnaker, with his back turned to goal, had a shot kept out by Shepperd in stoppage-time at the end of the half.

Sligo had more chances in the second half, as Mata found himself through on goal, but Shepperd saved before Wasiri Williams blocked the follow-up from Stefan Radosavljevic.

It was Dundalk who should have opened the scoring on 71 minutes, however, but McNicholas produced a world-class save to deny substitute John Martin’s header.

The visitors bagged all three points six minutes from time, when a Darragh Leahy cross was headed home by the towering Ward to send the travelling support into raptures.

Sligo Rovers: Luke McNicholas; Johan Brannefalk, John Mahon (Eanna Clancy HT) (Daniel Lafferty 90+2), Nando Pijnaker, Reece Hutchinson; Niall Morahan (David Cawley 77), Lukas Browning; Fabrice Hartmann (Frank Liivak HT), Stefan Radosavljevic, Will Fitzgerald; Max Mata (Bogdan Vastsuk 77).

Subs not used: Richard Brush (gk), Greg Bolger, Eli Rooney, Owen Elding.

Dundalk FC: Nathan Shepperd; Archie Davies, Hayden Muller, Wasiri Williams, Darragh Leahy; Ryan O’Kane (John Martin 70), Johannes Yli-Kokko (Keith Ward 76), Connor Malley, Alfie Lewis, Rayhaan Tulloch (Paul Doyle 88); Patrick Hoban.

Subs not used: Peter Cherrie (gk), Mark Byrne (gk), Daniel Kelly, Cameron Elliott, Robbie McCourt, Eoin Kenny.

Referee: Paul McLaughlin (Donegal).

Attendance: 2,643