Sligo Rovers get the better of UCD to ease Premier Division play-off worries

An Evan Osam own goal, coupled with Kailin Barlow's second of the season eased the pressure on Sligo Rovers boss John Russell as the Bit O'Red picked up their first win in seven, beating ten-man UCD in a sometimes cagey affair at the Showgrounds.

Osam turned Greg Bolger's cross into his own net shortly after the quarter hour, while substitute Barlow calmed the nerves in the 63rd minute, crashing home from the angle.

The Students finished the game without their full complement. Adam Wells shown a straight red late on.

The win moved Rovers six points ahead of second from bottom Cork City, who occupy the relegation-play off place.

Rovers looked like they should have had a penalty in the opening exchanges when UCD skipper Jack Keaney used raised hands to stop Pedro Martelo's cross at the end line, four minutes before the Portuguese striker struck the Students' crossbar with a wonderfully hit volley on the turn from the edge of the area.

Sligo captain David Cawley saw his header creep past Lorcan Healy's far post from a Fabrice Hartmann corner shortly after. While it was the Dubliners' turn to smack the frame of the goal on 13 minutes when Harvey O'Brien's header from a corner came back off Brush's crossbar.

Local reports suggested Sligo might dispense of Russell's services were the hosts not to take maximum points here. The Galway man might have breathed a little easier on 17 minutes when Osam could only sweep Bolger's cross towards the back post, into his own net.

Things might have got even better for Rovers eleven minutes from the break when Brendan Barr allowed Karl O'Sullivan's lengthy clearance creep under his feet, allowing Martelo through on goal. Lorcan Healy however, did just enough to tip Martelo's toe-poke around his