Doyle lifts Sligo out of drop zone

LEAGUE OF IRELAND Sligo Rovers 1 Bray Wanderers 0: SLIGO ROVERS moved out of the Premier Division relegation zone with this …

LEAGUE OF IRELAND Sligo Rovers 1 Bray Wanderers 0:SLIGO ROVERS moved out of the Premier Division relegation zone with this win at the Showgrounds last night. A 72nd-minute header from Eoin Doyle earned the home side the victory and lifted them ahead of St Patrick's Athletic and into seventh.

Rovers dominated the opening half and hit the woodwork twice, but just as a scoreless draw looked likely substitute Dean Marshall swung in a cross for Doyle to grab the winner and push Bray deeper into relegation trouble.

Rovers should have been at least one up at the break after creating a number of chances, the best of which saw Raffaele Cretaro tee-up Matthew Blinkhorn on 42 minutes, but the striker’s shot from inside the box bounced off the crossbar.

Richie Ryan also saw a shot bounce back off the post.

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Bray became more of an attacking threat in the second half, with Gary McCabe’s shot cleared off the line by Danny Ventre.

Paul Cook introduced Marshall and Darren Meenan shortly after as Rovers upped the search for that illusive goal. It had the desired effect as Marshall’s cross was headed home by Doyle.

Rovers had a couple of nervy moments in the closing stages, with Bray substitute Colm Tresson twice going close, but they held on to stretch their winning run to four games.

SLIGO ROVERS:Kelly, Boco, Peers, Keane, Ventre, Cash (Marshall 65), O'Grady (captain), Ryan (Meenan 69), Doyle, Blinkhorn, Cretaro. Subs not used: Turner, Camano, Schlingermann.

BRAY WANDERERS:O'Connor, O'Brien (captain), Deans, Brennan, Reyes (McCabe 26), Cronin (Massey 49), Shields (Tresson 77), Doyle, Mulcahy, Byrne, Kelly. Subs not used: Tuohy, Kane.

Referee:N Doyle.