Sligo Rovers move up to sixth place in Premier Division after narrow ...
Sligo Rovers moved up to sixth place in the league table thanks to their second consecutive win as the Bit O'Red were 2-1 winners over Drogheda United at The Showgrounds.
Connor Malley struck twice in the first-half to give Sligo a healthy 2-0 lead, while Jack Keaney pulled one back 40 seconds into the second-half, making for a tense finish to this game.
Having shocked league leaders Shelbourne at Tolka Park on Friday night, the hosts moved seven points clear of Drogheda.
And John Russell's side knew that another win would move the Bit O'Red 10 points clear of their opponents.
The Bit O'Red's form has picked up in recent weeks, with one defeat in their last five league games.
Kevin Doherty's side have been struggling for form of late, with five defeats in their last seven games.
In what was a blistering first-half for the home side, the Bit O'Red showed their intent from early on.
Drogheda were struggling to contain Sligo's attacking players, but did create a couple of chances of their own.
Steve Bawa had two bites of the cherry after eight minutes, with Ryan Brennan nodding wide from the follow up.
Sligo were looking the most likely to score, and they went ahead after 18 minutes.
Stefan Radosavljevic, who heads off for international duty with the Faroe Islands this week, struck his free-kick perfectly into the top corner, but the slightest of touches from Andrew Wogan forced it onto the crossbar.
As the ball bounced back out, Malley was on hand to send it in to the net with the help of a Drogheda defender.
Evan Weir looked through on goal minutes later, but somehow hit the side netting.
Sligo were putting all the pressure on Drogheda, with Malley and RB Leipzig loanee Fabrice Hartmann coming close.
But, Drogheda really should have been back in the game on 34 minutes when Conor Kane picked out Bawa inside the box.
Bawa skied his effort yards from goal, before the hosts extended their lead.
Just before half-time, it was 2-0 to the hosts as Barlow's free-kick came to Malley, and the former Dundalk man fired past Wogan.
Sligo unveiled new signing Stephen Mallon at half-time, with the former Bohemians man joining from Cliftonville from July 1st.
Whatever Kevin Doherty said to his players at half-time appeared to have the right impact, with Keaney scoring against his former club just 40 seconds into the second-half to bring Drogs back into the game.
Sligo's two goal lead should have been restored with 20 minutes to go, but Hartmann couldn't couldn't carve out the angle he wanted and fired wide eventually.
Sligo Rovers: E McGinty, JR Wilson, C Wiggett, O Denham, R Hutchinson, F Hartmann (O Elding, 81), C Malley, N Morahan, S Radosavljevic (W Waweru, 56), E Chapman, K Barlow (W Fitzgerald, 66).
Drogheda United: A Wogan, L Heeney (K Cailloce, 85), A Quinn, J Keaney, E Weir, C Kane (W Davis, 60), M O'Brien, O Gallagher, S Bawa, R Brennan, F Pierrot (A Foley, 66).
Referee: Marc Lynch.
