Sligo Rovers let deserved lead slip

LEAGUE OF IRELAND PREMIER DIVISION:Sligo Rovers 3 Dundalk 4

FOR THE second time in a week,Sligo Rovers blew a lead and allowed Dundalk to come from 3-1 down to win 4-3 at The Showgrounds on Saturday.

Former Rovers midfielder Chris Turner scored the equaliser from the penalty spot and then the winner with just five minutes remaining.

Two first-half goals from Matthew Blinkhorn added to a second-half strike from Raffaele Cretaro, had put the home side into a deserved lead. But Michael McGowan and substitute Tiernan Mulvenna were also on the mark for Dundalk, who secured an unlikely comeback.

Rovers were without the suspended Danny Ventre and Martin Camano, and recalled Richie Ryan from injury as an emergency left-back, with Joe Kendrick switching to the centre.

Dundalk fielded without the injured Michael Collins and the banned Michael Daly. Rovers had a bright start and were ahead after just four minutes. Owen Morrison was the architect, swinging a deep ball in from the right on his left foot. Blinkhorn was on hand at the far post to loop a header over goalkeeper Peter Cherrie.

McGowan brought Dundalk level on 14 minutes but Blinkhorn responded with another. Rovers started the second half just as positively as the first and had the ball in the Dundalk net twice in the opening 10 minutes, the second being ruled offside.

Dundalk boss Seán Connor made a double substitution, introducing Mulvenna and Paul McAreavey, and Mulvenna impressively fired one home with just over 20 minutes left.

McAreavey got in the act, drawing a foul from Kendrick and winning the penalty that enabled Turner to level the sides.

Turner then won it for the visitors with just five minutes left.

SLIGO ROVERS:R Brush; R Boco, A Keane, J Kendrick, R Ryan; O Morrison, C OGrady (capt), Michael McGrath, E Doyle (D Marshall 69); R Cretaro, M Blinkhorn. Substitutes not used: R Turner, C Kelly, B Cash, C Kelly. Booked: Cretaro (41), McGrath (86).

DUNDALK:P Cherrie; S Kelly, T Heary (capt), L Burns, K McKinlay (P McAreavey 58); S Kelly (M Coburn 78), G Rowe, C Turner, M McGowan; D Mansaram, A Williams (T Mulvenna 58). Substitutes not used: C Bennion, J Creaney. Booked: Turner (58), McGowan (64), Mulvenna (65), Mansaram 79.

Referee:Declan Hanney (Dublin).