Doyle blasts hat-trick as Sligo back to winning ways

EOIN DOYLE scored a hat-trick as Sligo Rovers bounced back from their defeat by Shamrock Rovers last weekend to take all three points at the Showgrounds last night.

Sligo started well and Daryl Horgan forced the visitors into a swift clearance after two minutes as the hosts went in search of an early goal. The Bray goal had another let off in the sixth minute when an Eoin Doyle cross was missed by Aaron Greene.

Seagulls keeper Matt Gregg had to come off his line quickly to deny Greene but could do nothing to prevent Eoin Doyle from giving the home side the lead in the 13th minute.

Gregg was then stretched to keep a looping Daryl Horgan shot out on 23 minutes as the home side continued to dictate the play.

Bray levelled on the half hour when Conor Murphy drilled the ball low into the Rovers net after a defensive slip up by Paul Cooke’s side.

And Murphy went close again after 35 minutes as Sligo keeper Ciaran Kelly hesitated before clearing the danger and the sides remained level at the break.

Doyle scored his second of the night in the 59th minute following good play by Alan Kirby and he completed his hat trick after 68 minutes.

Jake Kelly had a shot saved by Kelly after 72 minutes but Sligo maintained full control to see the game out.

SLIGO ROVERS: Kelly. Russell (Ndo 64), Horgan (Dillon 60), Greene, Peers, McGuinness, Davoren, Doyle (Cretaro 82), Ryan, Kirby, Keane.

BRAY WANDERERS: Gregg, Webster (Kelly 21), Massey, O’Connor, Prendergast, Dempsey, Zambra, Kelly (O’Neill 69), Murphy, Shields (Doyle 69), Kendrick.

Referee: Tom Connolly, Dublin.