Cork City 1 Sligo Rovers 0: FAZ KUDUZOVIC finally opened his account for Cork City at Turner's Cross last night as the Leesiders extended their unbeaten league run to seven games against a Sligo Rovers side decimated by injuries.
Sligo manager Paul Cook had to plan without seven first-team players, while the home side were unchanged from last weekend’s 1-0 victory over Galway United.
Paul Doolin’s side had the better of the first half but were unable to test opposing goalkeeper Richard Brush. Denis Behan, Joe Gamble and Shane Duggan all failed to hit the target with good opportunities, but Cork’s best chance fell to Kuduzovic in the 19th minute.
Danny Murphy’s cross from the left found the Bosnian striker at the back post, but his header went harmlessly over the crossbar.
The visitors didn’t threaten until two minutes before the interval when Alan Keane’s cross from the right resulted in a scramble in the Cork goalmouth, before Colin Healy eventually hooked the ball to safety.
Cork stepped up their search for a breakthrough after the restart and Duggan should have given them the lead on 53 minutes, but the ex-Plymouth youngster squandered an excellent chance with only Richard Brush to beat.
But the winning goal, when it eventually arrived in the 67th minute, was worth the wait. A beautifully weighted Colin Healy cross from the right-hand side found Kuduzovic just inside the box, and the former Sligo striker’s header sailed beyond Brush’s despairing dive.
CORK CITY:Connor; Sullivan, O'Halloran, Murray, Murphy; Gamble, Healy, Duggan; Kuduzovic (Lordan, 84 mins), Behan, Dennehy (Silagailis, 26 mins).
SLIGO ROVERS:Brush; Noctor (Keohane, 33 mins), Peers, Feeney, Keane; Cash, O'Grady, Ryan, Torpey (McTiernan, 79 mins); Cretaro, Boco.
Referee: D Tomney (Dublin).
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