Finn Harps progressed to the quarter finals of the EA Sports Cup after an extra time win over Sligo Rovers. It was the hosts first win of the season with a Mark Coyle screamer giving his side the lead, Dante Leverock answered swiftly as extra time
Finn Harps progressed to the quarter finals of the EA Sports Cup after an extra time win over Sligo Rovers.
It was the hosts first win of the season with a Mark Coyle screamer giving his side the lead, Dante Leverock answered swiftly as extra time beckoned. Debutant Stephen Doherty scored the winner five minutes after the restart to send the Ballybofey side through.
A heavy downpour commenced prior to kick off of the Northwest Derby Cup match, as the hosts started the better of the two sides. Debutant Stephen Doherty had the first chance inside 90 seconds in the aftermath of a corner but fired wide from the edge of the area.
Nathan Boyle was next to test his luck for the Donegal Outfit, the ball fell kindly for him roughly 25 yards out, but his half volley drifted wide of the left hand post.
Perhaps the best chance of the half came on the 14th minute for the visitors, Ronan Murray played a through ball down the middle of the park for Romeo Parkes to run onto, Parkes ran at goal and was set up for a left footed strike, he cut inside to fire with his right but the path was blocked which forced him to dummy again before passing across goal but Mark Russell cleared.
Parkes scored during his last performance at Finn Park and he went close again from an acute angle with a little over 20 minutes gone, his effort was thwarted by Niall Logue.
Very few clear cut chances followed a the teams went into the interval level. Harps had the better chances in the early exchanges of the second half, Doherty again went close early on but struck the side netting.
Fellow debutant Michael Gallagher wasn't far away with a fiercely struck volley following a corner after the hour, it had the fans out of their seats but unfortunately for the player it flashed wide.
The hosts had a number of chances approaching the end game, Liam Walsh went close twice as did Mark Coyle. The game sparked into life with just under 5 minutes to play.
Finn Harps took the lead in the 86th minute via a cracking effort from Coyle. It fell kindly for him after Walsh had a shot blocked and substitute fired into the top right corner from about 30 yards.
Sligo replied swiftly courtesy of a close range strike from Dante Leverock after a free kick, the home fans contested the goal as it looked as if a Harps man was fouled in the build up.
The away side nearly won it in stoppage time, Kyle Callan-McFadden struck from very close range but his effort was blocked on the line by Sam Todd. Extra Time ensued and Harps took the lead via Stephen Doherty after 5 minutes in.
Mark Russell saw an effort blocked but it rolled kindly towards the debutant who blasted home. Harps had a couple of efforts to seal the win as the game wore on.
Mikey Place saw an audacious effort clawed away from goal after attempting to chip McNicholas who wandered off his line. Leverock saw a late header fly over the bar, before Walsh saw a shot drift wide towards the end as Harps held on to win for the first time this season.
