Sligo maintain momentum to go three clear at top

Bray 1 Sligo Rovers 2:GOALS IN each half from Raffaele Cretaro and Danny North enabled Sligo Rovers to open a three-point gap at the top of the Premier Division table with a narrow victory over Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds last night.

It has been a marvellous start for new Sligo manager Ian Baraclough with the club continuing to make their best start to a league campaign in 75 years.

Bray did have an early chance when winger John Mulroy squared a ball for Seán Houston to fire in a shot from 20 yards which was grabbed at the second attempt by Sligo goalkeeper Gary Rogers.

But it was the westerners who took the lead on 10 minutes when Danny North found defender Alan Keane down the right and his cross was powerfully headed home from close range by Raffaele Cretaro.

Bray went close to an equaliser on 16 minutes when the unmarked Danny O’Connor got in a header which clipped the crossbar and over to safety after an Adam Hanlon corner on the left. The home side were however level three minutes later after a misjudged back-pass by Gavin Peers allowed Marty Waters to sprint clear and score.

Bray went close to getting the lead on 25 minutes when John created the opening in midfield for Hanlon to get in a left-footed effort well pushed over by Rogers. Then North shot just over for Sligo after John Dillon had unhinged the defence.

Sligo were back in front four minutes after the interval when Romuald Boco was taken down by O’Connor just outside the penalty area. The resulting free by Joseph Ndo was blasted home North. Boco provided another opening for North on 71 minutes but this time he fired just wide. Straight up the other end Jason Byrne fired wide from the edge of the box.

BRAY WANDERERS: Quigley; Webster, OConnor, Sweeney, Knight; Waters (Bolger 90), Houston, Zambra, Hanlon (Doyle 90), Mulroy (Kelty 90); Byrne.

SLIGO ROVERS: Rogers; Keane, Peers, Ventre, Davoren; Boco, Lynch, Ndo, Dillon (Cawley 85); Cretaro (Gaynor 68), North.

Referee: Alan Kelly (Cork).