Gone in 60 seconds

Sligo Rovers have been elimated from the Europa League after hopes of reaching the 4th Round were dashed when Vorskla Poltava scored two goals in quick succession.

Poltava started the stronger team, as the often found themselves in our half, with the first real chance falling for Jovan Markoski on the 10th minute when he shot from the edge of the box but ended up hitting it ridiculously off target.

The pressure they had been applying paid off in the 15th minute when Vorskla easily broke into the box, and Vasyl Sachko set up Serhiy Zakarliuka for a simple finish.

Just a minute later, Poltava left Rovers with a serious mountain to climb when they scored another simple goal.This time Pavlo Revenok volleyed in when he got on the end of a cross from Ivan Kryvosheyenko.

The Showgrounds, after a lively start from the fans, was now silent as Rovers continued to struggle to find their rhytm, with Joseph Ndo the only player in midfield really making anything happen.

The match descended into a bit of madness when Rovers finally had their first decent chance in the 27th minute. Ndo delivered a free kick into the box which Cretaro headed into the middle of the box. The 'keeper failed to keep hold of the ball and the whistle was eventually blown when Peers was deemed to have fouled Dolaganskiy. Tempers began to flair, and when order was finally restored, Peers was shown a yellow card, as was Krasnopyorov for his reaction to Peers in the box.

Rovers were putting Poltava under pressure now, but the chances they created weren't enough to really threaten the Ukraine side as they dealt with any trouble.

Danny Ventre recieved a yellow card which the home fans were furious about, which is understandable when the referee allowed play to go on when Blinkhorn was on the end of the exact same kind of tackle when a Poltava defender went in from behind just seconds earlier.

Rovers had the last chance before the break when Aaron Greene won a corner. Ndo delivered the ball which was met by towering defender Jason McGuinness, but he just couldn't get enough on the ball to head it down as it went over the bar.

Andriy Oberemenko, who was was brought on before the beginning of the second half, was the first to threaten Clarke in the first 5 minutes of the restart with a low drive, but he dealt with it easily.

The game became more and more of a frustrating affair as it was clear we just lacked that extra something as the Poltava defence continued to frustrate us, while they also weren't done going for goal as they continued to threaten.

Armend Dallku's cross in the 68th minute found Sachko in the box, and he almost scored the goal of the game but his powerful volley rattled the crossbar.

McGuinness steered a header on target this half from an Ndo free kick, but much to his frustration, Dolaganskiy was waiting right behind him to collect it.

Poltava will be wondering how they didn't score another two goals in quick succession when Markoski, who found himself with the goal very much at his mercy, somehow shot wide of the far post from inside the box.

Gavin Peers done expertly well to recover from his own poor backpass when Markoski threatened again, but his perfectly executed tackle knocked the ball out for a corner. Minutes later, Bezus went for the spectacular with an overheard kick, but didn't connect properly with the ball.

Rovers were desperately trying to get a goal on the score sheet, but it was to no avail as Vorskla Poltava held out until the final whistle and now deservedly go through to the 4th Round. A frustrating night, but look on the bright side, we still have a League Title to play for and can still retain our two Cups, our season is far from over. Next up for the first team is Dundalk away on Sunday, while a Rovers select team play the Man United legends this Saturday in the Showgrounds for Gerry Carr's testimonial.

Sligo Rovers: Clarke, Ventre, McGuinness, Peers, Powell, Cretaro (Russell, 69 mins), Ryan, Ndo, Kirby, Greene (Doyle, 56 mins), Blinkhorn (Dillon, 69 mins)

Subs not used: Kelly, Foran, Davoren

Vorskla Poltava: Dolhanskiy, Dallku, Kurylov, Chesnakov, Selin, Krivosheenko, Markoski, Zakarlyuka (Oberemko, 45 mins), Krasnoperov (Asipenka, 80 mins), Rebenok, Sachlo (Bezus, 68 mins)

Subs not used: Velychko, Peskov, Matveyev, Chychykov

Attendance: 3700

thebitoredblog Man of the Match: Conor Powell