Almeida heads Sligo in the right direction

Finn Harps 0 Sligo Rovers 1: SLIGO ROVERS won the north-west derby at Finn Park last night to continue their rise up the table while Finn Harps have now lost five in a row.

After a strangely subdued start, Sligo went ahead in the 23rd minute. Conor Gethins lost possession outside the box and Sligo forced a corner, which was floated in by Fahridin Kudozovic for a totally unmarked Mauro Almeida to head home at the near post.

Kudozovic then fired a free inches wide on the half hour before Harps squandered a great chance when Gethins blazed over a minute later.

Sligo thought they had scored a second on 44 minutes but Gallagher was impeded after he initially spilled a Rafael Cretaro effort.

In a more even second period Cretaro just failed to connect with a Kudozovic free while Harps were lifted by an inswinging Shaun Williams corner that glanced off the woodwork. Rovers always had the edge, however, and held on for a deserved win.

FINN HARPS: Gallagher, Roddy, Holmes, Labonte, Malcolm, Boyle, Brolly, McGowan, Ramsey, Gethins, Williams. Subs: Breen and Gill for Ramsey and Boyle (both 45 mins), Funston for McGowan (78 mins).

SLIGO ROVERS: Brush, Coleman, Butler, Peers, Almeida, O'Grady, Cash, Ventre, Boco, Kudozovic, Cretaro. Subs: Murphy and Judge for Cash and Boco (both 62 mins), Moore for Kudozovic (75 mins).

Referee: R Winters (Dublin).

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times