Soccer

Waterford get the better of Sligo after first-half goal blitz

All five goals were scored in the first 33 minutes of the game at the Showgrounds

Stanley Aborah opened the scoring for Waterford after just four minutes. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho

Sat Jun 30 2018 - 21:56

Sligo Rovers 2 Waterford 3

All five goals came in the first half as Waterford earned a vital three points at the Showgrounds on Saturday night.

Stanley Aborah, John Martin and Bastian Hery all scored for the visitors to cancel out goals from Adam Wixted and Séamus Sharkey for the hosts.

The goals arrived as early as the fourth minute as Stanley Aborah netted past a stationary Mitchell Beeney from a free-kick harshly awarded against Jack Keaney.

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It was 2-0 to the visitors 15 minutes later from another set-piece, as David Webster’s free was headed on by Ishmail Akinade for John Martin to fire low in to the net from inside the area.

But Rovers finally woke up to the game six minutes later, as David Cawley's brilliant through-ball released Adam Wixted for a superb finish past Matthew Connor.

And it was all-square minutes later as Regan Donelon’s in-swinging corner just needed a touch from the excellent Sharkey to guide the ball to the side of the net.

But Waterford were not long getting what proved to be the winner, as Bastian Hery seized upon a half-cleared free-kick, and stabbed the ball to the net three minutes later.

SLIGO ROVERS: Beeney, Sharkey, Mahon, McClean, Donelon, McAleer (Collins, 78 mins), Cawley, Keaney, Wixted, Moorhouse (Kerrigan, 62 mins), Morrison (Cretaro, 54 mins).

WATERFORD: Connor, Browne, Webster, Barnett, Puri, Hery, Aborah (Griffin ht), Martin (Kavanagh, 78 mins), O'Halloran, Duffus (Dean Walsh, 90 mins), Akinade.

Referee: G Kelly.

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