JOHN DILLON'S third goal in two games helped Sligo Rovers to a 3-0 first leg defeat of Portadown in the Setanta Sports Cup at the Showgrounds on Monday night.

Dillon’s deflected opener on 21 minutes gave the home side the early advantage, with second half strikes from John Russell and Rafael Cretaro increasing the home side’s advantage ahead of next week’s second leg.

Rovers made four changes from their weekend defeat of Drogheda United, with centre-back Derek Foran and FAI Cup final hero Ciaran Kelly making their first appearances of the season.

Portadown rested a number of players ahead of Saturday’s Co-Operative Insurance Cup final, making seven changes to the team beaten by Lisburn Distillery last weekend.

Rovers threatened early on, and Brian Gartland and Alan Teggart were both forced to make early tackles to deny Eoin Doyle.

The opening goal arrived towards the end of the first quarter, with Iarfhlaith Davoren’s cross from the left picking out Matthew Blinkhorn in front of goals.

The striker’s header was saved by David Miskelly, but the ball broke out to John Dillon, whose shot deflected to the net.

Portadown did manage to put the ball in the Sligo net on 28 minutes, but Richard Leckey was adjudged to have fouled Gavin Peers before netting.

Miskelly made an excellent save to deny Aaron Greene on 33 minutes, and 60 seconds later, Doyle fired over from inside the area after being teed-up by Alan Keane.

Portadown were improved after the restart, and had calls for a penalty turned down when Keith O’Hara’s shot struck Peers.

Sean Mackle also saw a shot saved by Kelly, before the home side claimed their second goal on a sharp counter attack.

Aaron Greene did the hard work, skipping past two challenges before pulling the ball back for John Russell to tap home from close range.

The first corner didn’t arrive until the 64th minute but almost produced the third goal, with Richard Leckey rising highest in the area and Kelly diving to make the save.

Cretaro came on as the home side pushed for more goals, but Doyle saw another chance go to waste when he robbed possession close to goal but shot too high.

Russell twice had shots blocked in the next five minutes, before Wesley Boyle saw a curling effort from outside the area well held by Sligo keeper Kelly.

But Rovers got the third goal on the stroke of full-time, as substitute Cretaro fired low to the corner from inside the area.

 

Sligo Rovers: Kelly, Keane, Peers, Foran, Davoren, Dillon (Cretaro 63), Russell, Ryan, Greene, Doyle, Blinkhorn (Ventre 85).

Portadown: Miskelly, Craig, Gartland, Ramsey, Teggart, Boyle, Mackle (Baker 81), Mouncey (McCabe 69), O’Hara, Haire, Lecky.

Referee: T Connolly.