IBV  Vestmannaeyjar   1   St. Patrick’s Athletic  0

 

 

Gary Rogers conceded the match winning penalty, but then produced two brilliant saves in Reykjavik to keep St. Pat’s in this Europa League tie.

 

Rogers took down ex-Iceland international Tryggvi Gudmundsson five minutes into the second half with skipper Andri Olafsson calmly slotting home the spot kick.

 

But Rogers then produced stunning one-handed saves from  long-range efforts by Denis Sytnik and Ugandan Tonny Mawejje.

 

St. Patrick’s were well in the game, though, and had their chances, mostly notably four minutes from time when substitute Anto Murphy’s header from a Stephen Bradley corner was headed off the line by Mawejje. Brian Shortall should then have done better when heading over following Murphy's long throw.

 

Both sides had their chances in the first half. St. Pat’s skipper Stephen Bradley’s free kick brought a save at full stretch from IBV keeper Albert Saevarsson. Bradley’s delightful chip then set up Daryl Kavanagh who volleyed over when he should have hit that target.

 

But IBV were very dangerous, forcing six corners to nil before. Twice they got in behind St. Pat’s with Kelvin Mellor wasting the first when slicing wide  while Rogers made a comfortable save to deprive Sytnik.

 

The return is at Richmond Park next Thursday.

 

IBV: Saevarsson; Mellor, Sigurbjornsson, Christiansen, Garner; Mawejje, F. Olafsson, Vladimarsson; Sytnik (Thorarinsson, 73 mins.), A. Olafsson (Hughes, 78 mins.), Gudmundsson (Borgthorsson, 85 mins.).

St. Patrick’s Athletic: Rogers; Pender, E. McMillan, Shortall, Bermingham; Bradley, Crowley (McFaul, 61 mins.), Mulcahy (Murphy, 84 mins.); Kavanagh, North (Daly, 75 mins.), Doyle.

Referee: Michael Svendsen (Denmark).

 

Attendance: 608.