North steers St Pat's to victory

St. Patrick's Athletic 2 Sligo Rovers 1

Danny North scored early and very late to edge St. Pat's right into the title race as they extended their unbeaten record to eight games.

In a match watched by Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni and his assistant Marco Tardelli, the little English striker punished a poor back pass by John Russell to fire Saints in front after just four minutes.

In-form Sligo hit back to level a minute before the break when former St. Pat's winger Alan Kirby drilled home after Eoin Doyle laid off Aaron Green's cross.

It looked like the sides had settled for a point when North popped up to win the contest in the fourth minute of added time with a stunning, rising left foot drive that arrowed into to top corner of Ciaran Kelly's net.