Sligo Rovers remain on the up with St Pat's scalp 

Jad Hakiki of Sligo Rovers. Pic: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

Premier Division: Sligo Rovers 1 (Jad Hakiki 19), St Patrick’s Athletic 0 

SLIGO Rovers’ upsurge in fortunes continued with a merited 1-0 defeat of St Patrick’s Athletic at The Showgrounds.

Jad Hakiki’s goal was the difference as St Pat’s missed the chance to return to the top four.

St Pat’s, fifth in the standings ahead of this fixture and with a Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup semi-final coming up, were seeking a fourth win over Sligo this season, having already beaten John Russell’s outfit three times this year.

Sligo, out of the bottom two thanks to their recent away defeat of Connacht rivals Galway United as well as other results, were - their Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup quarter-final capitulation away to Kerry FC aside - on a four-game unbeaten run.

Sligo made the early running and Gareth McElroy got a header on target from a Will Fitzgerald delivery.

St Pat’s, who saw a lot of the ball, looked threatening through Mason Melia and Kian Leavy but a series of fruitless corners was the sum of their early pressure.

Sligo took the lead in the 19th minute. Jad Hakiki scored at the second attempt - his first effort was saved by Joseph Anang - after Patrick McClean was involved in the build-up.

Later in the first-half there were efforts at either end for Sligo’s Ciaron Harkin and St Pat’s Kian Leavy but the both were saved.

Sligo went in at the break a goal up and full value for this advantage.

The onus was on St Pat’s to turn things around but Sligo were staying solid.

Will Fitzgerald’s acrobatic volley - from an Edwin Agbaje cross - was put out for a corner as St Pat’s were fortunate not to go 2-0 down.

Then Cian Kavanagh had a shot on target as Sligo kept the pressure on their opponents.

St Pat’s were handed a terrific chance to equalise following a cheap loss of possession from Sligo but Mason Melia’s underwhelming effort was saved by Sam Sargeant.

A St Pat’s set-piece led to a scramble in the Sligo area and Tom Grivosti flashed a shot wide.

Rain began to make conditions difficult as Sligo continued to frustrate St Pat’s efforts to find a leveller.

Substitute Conor Carty went close and Joe Redmond’s piledriver was denied by Sam Sargeant.

Sligo Rovers: Sergeant; Agbaje, McClean, McElroy, Stewart (McDonagh 68); Harkin (Patton 81), McManus (Wolfe 77); Elding, Hakiki, Fitzgerald; Kavanagh (Waweru 68).

St Patrick’s Athletic: Anang; Sjoberg (Mulraney 68), Redmond, Grivosti (Turner 88), McClelland (Kazeem 88); Lennon, Baggley (Carty 80); Power, Leavy, Garrick (Kavanagh 68); Melia.

Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan.

Attendance: 2,786.