Dundalk end turbulent week with Sligo defeat

Dundalk ended what was a turbulent week for the club with defeat as goals from Sligo Rovers' Wilson Waweru and Ellis Chapman replied to Robbie Benson's first half penalty as the Bit O'Red moved level with third-placed Shamrock Rovers.

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Having staved away concerns surrounding their immediate future as a football club, the Lilywhites were offered hope of a brighter future earlier this week when they were taken over by local John Temple.

The news however couldn't inspire their players towards what would have been a win which would have pulled them off the foot of the Premier Division however as Sligo recovered from a patchy opening half to record their seventh league win at home on the spin.

The Louthmen's cause wasn't helped by a Hayden Cann red card 15 minutes from time.

Dundalk's Bobby Faulkner reacts at the full-time whistle

Rovers boss John Russell welcomed club captain Niall Morahan back to the starting eleven after the Leitrim man had missed last week's defeat to Shamrock Rovers through suspension.

Morahan was the only change in personnel from the Tallaght Stadium defeat.

The visitors for their part also made the one switch, Jad Hakiki replacing Scott McGill who had started the recent loss to Waterford.

Despite their recent off-the-field woes, it was Dundalk who enjoyed the better of the first half.

Winger Daryl Horgan bent an effort over the Sligo crossbar from inside the area six minutes in, while Will Fitzgerald's shot flashed past the far post at the opposite end three minutes later.

The visitors had the lead on 24 minutes in controversial circumstances when referee Marc Lynch ruled that the ball had hit Connor Malley's arm.

It was a decision which enraged the home bench who argued both that the ball had hit Malley's shoulder and that the former Dundalk man was outside the box when the incident happened.

Unfazed by the surrounding fuss, Benson knocked his spot kick beyond Ed McGinty, although the on-loan net minder did get a touch to the ball.

Rovers did manufacture chances in this period, but looked somewhat scattered in their approach. Unmarked at the far post, Ollie Denham headed Simon Power's set piece over Ross Munro's crossbar on the half hour.

While Power's swerving drive from 35 yards out moved in the air before it smacked back off Munro's post.

The lively Horgan twice threatened before the break. His effort clipped Gareth McElroy on its way past McGinty's post, while the Galway man pulled an excellent save from Sligo stopper late in the first half.

Chasing that seventh straight league win on home turf, Russell's men almost leveled the game on 55 minutes only for a superb block from Munro who denied Fitzgerald from close range.

The hosts restored parity on 69 when despite facing away from goal, Waweru managed to head Power's cross from the left beyond the scrambling Munro for his tenth goal of the year.

Ellis Chapman after scoring Sligo's second goal of the night

Waweru's night was brought to a halt minutes later when he was stretchered off with what looked like an ankle injury but there was good news for Sligo who took the lead with 15 to go.

A jaded looking Cann pushed Sligo sub Luke Pearce to the floor as the Cardiff loanee ran through on goal. Referee Lynch showed little hesitation in awarding the penalty and sending the stricken Cann to the stands.

Chapman was then on target from the resulting penalty for his ninth goal of the season.

Dundalk threw their lot at Sligo during the final moments. A world-class save from McGinty kept out a Robbie Mahon header from just yards out, while the same man kept out fellow Jamie Gullan in the dying moments of those added minutes.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; JR Wilson, Gareth McElroy, Ollie Denham, Reece Hutchinson; Niall Morahan, Conor Malley (Luke Pearce 62); Will Fitzgerald, Ellis Chapman, Simon Power; Wilson Waweru (Kailin Barlow 74).

Dundalk: Ross Munro; Dan Pike, Andy Boyle, Hayden Cann, John Mountney; Aodh Dervin, Jad Hakikii (Dara Keane 71), Robbie Benson (Norman Garbett 84); Daryl Horgan (Robbie Mahon 84), Ryan O'Kane (Bobby Faulkner 77); Eoin Kenny (Jamie Gullan 71).

Referee: Marc Lynch.

Attendance: 2,754.

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