Mata hits hat-trick as Sligo snatch points at UCD

Max Mata scored a hat-trick as Sligo Rovers had to twice come from behind for victory at the UCD Bowl.

Though Sligo enjoyed much of the ball and created the majority of the chances in a riveting game, they needed two harshly awarded penalties to turn the game around.

Unchanged from last week's home draw with champions Shamrock Rovers, Sligo began on the front foot only to find themselves behind on five minutes.

Kailin Barlow cleverly dribbled to the end line within 90 seconds, but there was no red shirt there to convert the cross as UCD cleared.

Sloppiness by UCD gifted the victors another sight of goal three minutes later. Frank Liivak should have done better than shoot tamely into the arms of Lorcan Healy.

College then showed Sligo how to properly punish a mistake when taking the lead.

Bit O’ Red centre-back Eanna Clancy, who turns 19 on Sunday, was pressed into an error when his pass back to goalkeeper Luke McNicholas fell short.

Danu Kinsella-Bishop was alert to the opening, skipping away to cross where Alex Nolan arrived to apply a composed finish.

Looking for an immediate response, Sligo had the ball in the UCD net on 12 minutes, though Mata’s effort was ruled out for offside.

Minutes later Mata rose above the home defence, but not the ball, to meet skipper Greg Bolger’s cross and plant his header over the crossbar.

The Kiwi striker soon made amends, though, as Sligo were rewarded with a deserved equaliser on 21 minutes.

UCD gave the ball up cheaply with Barlow finding Liivak in space on the right.

The Estonian’s ball in behind found Mata, onside this time. The striker neatly cut past Ryan Bowden before rifling to the net beyond Healy for a fine first goal of the season.

Though owning much of the ball, Sligo had a right let off