UCD fail to take full benefit

Sligo Rovers 0 UCD 0:FAHRUDIN KUDOZOVIC played his last home game for Sligo Rovers in this lacklustre encounter at the Showgrounds on Saturday night.

The Bosnian striker, who is set to join one of the league's top sides, was highly popular at the Showgrounds but the club's current financial situation means that one of their best players will now ply his trade elsewhere.

The livewire students taught the home side a lesson in slick team work and could have been at least two goals up at half-time.

Brian Shortall headed wide from a corner after three minutes and he missed again when it seemed easier to score on 18 minutes.

Rovers came closest to scoring when the fleet-footed Séan Doherty drilled the ball across the face of goal in the 20th minute.

Sligo manager Paul Cooke was very disappointed with his team's performance.

"We were played off the pitch in the first half and would have settled for a point at half-time. We looked a tired team, we weren't good enough, didn't deserve to win the game and a draw was a fair result," said Cooke.

UCD assistant manager Martin Russell was upbeat with the result. "The Showgrounds is a difficult place to come to and we are happy with the point. Our problem to date has been our inability to convert our chances but we are working on this."

Raffaele Cretaro, Anto Murphy and Kudozovic were a big threat as Sligo stepped up a gear in the second half but a string of saves by Matt Gregg in the UCD goal kept the scoresheet blank.

SLIGO ROVERS: Brush, Ventre, McKenzie, Peers, Almeida, O'Grady, Cash (Moore, 52 mins) Cretaro, Murphy (Judge, 78 mins), Kudozovic, Doherty (Feeney, 78 mins).

UCD: Gregg, Mahon, Bermingham, Kenna, Shortall, McNally, Fitzgerald, King, Finn (Purcell, 78 mins), Doyle, McWalter (Bolger, 86 mins).

Referee: M Gough (Limerick).