Raff opens his 2011 account as Rovers win 3-0

Rovers comfortably beat Portadown 3-0 in the Setanta Cup Quarter-Final 1st leg, with Rafael Cretaro and John Russell both scoring their first goals of the season.

Raff scores his goal to make it 3-0

Photo courtesy of Kevin Finn

Paul Cook made 4 changes to the side that beat Drogheda on friday night, with Derek Foran, Ciaran Kelly, Eoin Doyle and Matthew Blinkhorn coming in for Jason McGuinness, Brendan Clarke, Alan Kirby  and Rafael Cretaro. They were able to pick up from where left off on friday, dominating the opening proceedings with some very pleasing football on the eye.

Once again, it was down the flanks where we were causing the most damage, with Greene and Keane in particular giving the full backs all sorts of troubles. Blinkhorn had the first real chance of the game, when he took the ball into the box, but saw his low effort go narrowly wide.

Rovers were constantly trying to carve open the Portadown defence with their passing, and almost had a chance to open the scoring when Blinkhorn unselfishly passed the ball to an unmarked Alan Keane, but was called back for offside. Rovers broke the deadlock in very similar fashion to last friday, when John Dillon found a loose ball at his feet, and confidently struck home from close range for his 3rd goal in 2 games.

Rovers showed no signs of slowing down the tempo as they were still trying to find chances through some very neat and exciting football, some promising signs showing a return of the style of football we played last season. Rovers entered the break as the far dominant team, but it was to be expected with Portadown fielding a weakened team.

Rovers came out and kept up their hold on the game, creating chances from the flanks again, and with an of the game gone, Rovers got their second. Aaron Greene showed great determination when he chased a ball that looked set to roll out for a goal-kick, but he managed to wrap his foot and hit into the centre of the box which met John Russell perfectly who scored his first goal of the season.

John Russell

Photo courtesy of Kevin Finn

Shortly after the goal, Cook introduced Rafael Cretaro, taking off John Dillon. Rovers continued to dominate, and during this time seen one of the most bizarre offside calls probably ever seen in Irish football, when a cross to the far wing for Iarfhlaith Davoren was called offside, despite the left back being well onside.

The game began to settle, and it looked our last decent chance came through Eoin Doyle, when showed great compusure to take down the ball and turn his defender, but couldn't keep his shot down. In the 89th minute Cretaro made it 3-0 and his first of 2011 when he burst forward with the ball, and despite looking as if it was too much for the Tubbercurry Tornado, he kept his balance to slot the ball past the keeper to give Rovers a well deserved and comofrtable win on the night and an aggregate score which is unlikely to be overturned in the 2nd leg.

Sligo Rovers: Kelly, Keane, Foran, Peers, Davoren, Dillon, Russell, Ryan, Greene, Doyle, Blinkhorn

Subs: Clarke, McGuinness, Keohane, Ventre, O' Mahony, Cretaro, McGoldrick

Portadown: Miskelly, Mackle, O' Hara, Gartland, Ramsey, Mouncey, Craig, Boyle, Taggert, Haire, Lecky

Subs: McCabe, Hogg, Clarke, Baker, Redman, Tipton

Attendance: 1000-1200 (approx.)

thebitoredblog Man of the Match: Aaron Greene