Sligo Rovers 3-2 Shelbourne

Shels Seven-up in Sligo

Another impressive away win saw Shelbourne extend their seven match unbeaten run. It was a richly deserved result, though not without a little help from unexpected quarters. Last week Sligo keeper Matt Boswell, had joined with under-pressure manager Jim McInally in appealing to the club’s senior players to rally around the team’s youngsters in fighting their disastrous start to the season. On the evidence of his decidedly dodgy performance last Saturday night, Boswell should look to his own laurels.

With Stephen Geoghegan sidelined due to the groin injury he picked up in the Stade de Shit last week and Garry Haylock still thankfully (in Red Bull’s not so very humble opinion) suspended, Dermot Keely surprisingly opted for a 2 man forward line, bringing back, the out-of-favour Dessie Baker in alongside Johnny Powell. Karel van der Velden - said to be a flu victim - was again missing from the starting 11, so Dave Campbell retained his midfield berth, with Neil Ogden returning to the Showgrounds on the left flank.

The match was only 1 minute old when the home keeper’s nightmare performance began. His frenzied karate-kick type clearance at an easy in-swinging cross which he could safely have caught, did little to inspire any confidence among the callow teenagers in the Sligo team. Despite a heavy pitch in the wet ‘n wild conditions, the Real Red’s lightly built Dutch striker, Powell, seemed to revel in the mud and he got his reward just 10 minutes later, when he smashed home from outside the box to open his account and give the visitors the lead. Though clearly outclassed, the home side were determined to battle and following some scrappy play when Williams could only palm away a shot, the ball fell to Shannon and he somehow managed to knock it past Dave Campbell defending on the line, to put his side level. It was short-lived relief for the beleaguered bit o’reds though, as Shels stepped up a gear and that man Powell was on hand to run onto a through ball, and once again find the net with another fine strike.

Shelbourne should have taken their lead into the dressing room at half time, but Dave Campbell was harshly adjudged to have brought down Moran on the edge of the box and the resultant successful spot-kick levelled the scores once again, to flatter the Sligo men at the break. However, Boswell’s dodgy goalkeeping gaffes took centre-stage in the second half, and after only 3 minutes from the restart, a Shelbourne corner was touched on for what should have been a easy, above-head two-handed catch by the netminder. Yet, he somehow contrived to scoop the ball backwards into his own net to give the Real Reds a bonus lead. On the hour, the keeper was again found wanting, when he made an ill-judged suicidal charge from his goal-line, in a race to a ball that Richie Baker was always going to win, and the Ireland under/21 panellist made no mistake, chipping into the unguarded goalmouth.

Team :Williams; Heary , McCarthy, Scully, D Geoghegan; R Baker, P Fenlon, D Campbell ( Doolin 70 mins), N Ogden ; J Powell ( K O’Brien 85 mins), D Baker.

Comment No. 1 : Though gifted a couple of goals, Shels were still worthy winners and this increasingly more (red)bullish supporter feels that the Red’s could have risen to score more goals, if push came to shove.

Comment No. 2 : It was good to see Dessie back in action up front, and the elder Baker boy acquitted himself – in what many Shels supporters feel is his best position – quite well. He should retain a place next week at home to Drogheda, possibly on the right wing with Ritchie away in Macedonia. If fit, Geogho is an automatic choice, but Johnny Powell will feel hard done by if he has to make way for a certain over-rated unfit has-been.

Comment No. 3 : The lad who came on for Johnny five minutes from the end is the other K O’Brien – not Keith the defender. Kevin O’Brien a former youths player from Spurs, was released by Shels a few weeks ago – but was re-signed as cover for the injured Geogho and the suspended stocking (all stockings should be suspended).

 

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