Sligo Rovers - 0 UCD - 1: UCD sent Sligo Rovers tumbling to their first home defeat of the season with a deserved win at the Showgrounds last night

The students broke the deadlock in the 40th minute when a Paul Crowley cross was drilled past Sligo goalkeeper Richard Brush by the hard-working Conor Sammon.

A superb save by Brush denied Sammon a second goal on the stroke of full-time.

Sligo had a great chance to equalise from the penalty spot in the 56th minute but Keith Foy's kick was superbly saved by UCD goalkeeper Darren Quigley.

The visitors dominated the opening 45 minutes with a rock-solid defence restricting the home side's scoring chances to the minimum.

The visitors enjoyed the bulk of the possession during the opening period of the game as the home side struggled to get a clear shot at goal.

Adam Hughes went close for Sligo from a Conor O'Grady free-kick on 18 minutes but the UCD goalkeeper was alert to the danger.

Sammon had the first chance of the opening half for UCD but the ball drifted harmlessly wide as the home defence held firm.

Sligo manager Sean Connor gave Nigerian striker Choice Aisien his debut when he came on in the 50th minute.

Aisien, a Nigerian under-21 international striker, joins from German second division side Offenback Kickers having previously featured in the Eintracht Frankfurt youth team.

Brian Cash, meanwhile, a recent signing from Derry City, made his first start for Sligo Rovers.

SLIGO ROVERS: Brush, Peers, Foy, McNamara, O'Grady, Hughes, Kudozovic, Mansaram, McKenzie, Judge, Cash. Subs: Turner for Foy (73 mins); Aisien for Judge (50 mins); Singh for Cash (59 mins).

UCD: Quigley, Mahon, Kenna, McNally, McDonnell, McWalter, Dicker, Doyle, Finn, Crowley, Sammon. Sub: Shorthall for McDonnell (86 min).

Referee: D Hancock (Dublin).