Sligo Rovers blew a lead for the second time in a week, as Dundalk came from 3-1 to win 4-3 at The Showgrounds on Saturday.

 

Former Rovers midfielder Chris Turner scored the equaliser from the penalty spot and then the winner, after two goals from Matthew Blinkhorn and one from Raffaele Cretaro put the home side ahead.

 

Michael McGowan and substitute Tiernan Mulvenna were also on the mark for Dundalk.

 

Rovers had a bright start and were ahead after just four minutes. Owen Morrison was the architect, swinging a deep ball in from the right on his left foot. Blinkhorn was on hand at the far post to loop a header over goalkeeper Peter Cherrie and into the net.

 

But Dundalk upped their intensity after this setback, and pulled level on 14 minutes. Turner and Ger Rowe worked a short free-kick on the right, and when Rovers were unable to fully clear, the ball dropped to McGowan at the edge of the area and rifled it to the net.

 

Blinkhorn got his second after Cretaro had brilliantly turned Thomas Heary and fed his strike partner, who fired through a defender and past Cherrie.

 

Cretaro made it three when he capitalised on some industry from Eoin Doyle, and cleverly worked some shooting space before firing to the bottom corner early in the second half.

 

Dundalk boss Sean Connor made a double substitution after this, introducing Mulvenna and Paul McAreavey, and it had the desired effect with Mulvenna firing home superbly from inside the area with just over 20 minutes left.

 

And then McAreavey got in the act, drawing a foul from Kendrick and winning the penalty that enabled Turner to level the sides again from the spot.

 

And Turner won it for the visitors when he lashed the ball home from outside the area, with just five minutes left.

 

Sligo Rovers: Brush, Boco, Keane, Kendrick, Ryan, Morrison, O'Grady, McGrath, Doyle (Marshall 69), Cretaro, Blinkhorn.

 

Subs not used: Turner, Christopher Kelly, Cash, Ciaran Kelly.

 

Dundalk: Cherrie, Simon Kelly, Heary, Burns, McKinlay (McAreavey 58), Shaun Kelly (Coburn 78), Rowe, Turner, McGowan, Mansaram, Williams (Mulvenna 58).

 

Subs not used: Bennion, Creaney.

 

Referee: D Hanney (Dublin).