Sligo Rovers 2 Motherwell 0: Shane Blaney wonder strike sends Steelmen crashing out of Europe (Agg: 3-0)

A wonder strike from Sligo Rovers defender Shane Blaney helped send Motherwell crashing out of the Europa Conference League at the first hurdle.

The Steelmen trailed 1-0 after a disappointing first leg at Fir Park and, despite dominating possession at a sold-out Showgrounds in Ireland, they couldn’t turn the second qualifying round tie in their favour in a 3-0 aggregate defeat.

Sligo, who sit fifth in the League of Ireland, took the lead in stunning fashion when Blaney arrowed a free-kick home from 30-yards and Max Mata netted in the 90th minute to see off Graham Alexander’s side, who failed to score in 180 minutes of football.

Despite qualifying for Europe this season with a fifth-place finish in the Premiership last term, Motherwell have struggled for form since the start of the year – and Alexander has now overseen just five wins in their last 23 competitive games heading into the new league campaign on Sunday.

This performance will have done nothing to appease a section of the support calling for a change in the dugout.

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The Steelmen made one change from last week’s first leg defeat as Ross Tierney came into the line-up at the expense of Connor Shields. Rovers were unchanged from their 1-0 win at Fir Park.

But any hopes Motherwell had of starting on the front foot were dashed after just four minutes when they fell behind to another early goal.

Unlike last week, however, there was nothing the Motherwell defence could do to prevent it as Blaney fired a stunning free-kick past Liam Kelly from fully 30-yards, into the top corner.

Sligo’s Shane Blaney strikes to makes it 1-0 with an outrageous free-kick

In 13 minutes Motherwell thought they’d pulled themselves level when Ricki Lamie fired home from a Blair Spittal delivery, but he was quickly flagged for offside.

Another Spittal delivery created a great chance three minutes later and this time Kevin van Veen could only head straight at Rovers keeper Luke McNicholas.

Sligo continued to frustrate the Steelmen and even the substitutes were getting in on the act as striker Max Mata managed to waste some time, throwing the ball away as he warmed up at the side of the pitch. He was duly booked by referee Bojan Pandzic.

Motherwell’s Ricki Lamie scores but his effort was ruled out for offside

As half-time approached, Kelly reacted well to deny first leg hero Aidan Keena a goal when he got down well to prevent the ex-Hearts and Queen’s Park striker adding to Motherwell’s woes.

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Alexander introduced Connor Shields for Spittal at the break and it almost paid dividends in 51 minutes. Paul McGinn sent a teasing ball into the box and as Shields stretched a leg out, he couldn’t get enough on his effort to turn the ball into the net.

Sligo were still a threat themselves and Motherwell breathed a sigh of relief Lewis Banks headed over for a corner.

Barry Maguire was then required to make a vital block to turn the ball away for a corner as Will Fitzgerald almost teed-up Rovers team-mate David Cawley in the box.

Motherwell manager Graham Alexander during a Europa Conference League qualifying match between Sligo Rovers and Motherwell

Alexander made a last throw of the dice with three substitutions midway through the half. Striker Jo Efford, midfielder Sean Goss and defender Sondre Solholm Johansen came on for Barry Maguire, Ross Tierney and Bevis Mugabi.

A chance presented itself to Efford within moments of his introduction but, in an effort that summed up Motherwell’s night, he sliced his effort wide of the target.

Lamie, Motherwell’s most dangerous player in the game, had a huge opportunity 12 minutes from time as he headed down a corner kick and it bounced over the crossbar. It looked like the defender was having his shirt pulled but Sligo escaped punishment.

With Motherwell chasing right until the end, they were caught out in the 90th minute when Mata made it 2-0, firing past Kelly to set up a third qualifying round tie with Norweigian side Viking.

The Steelmen must now pick themselves up quickly as they kick-off their Scottish Premiership campaign away to St Mirren on Sunday.

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SLIGO: McNicholas, Banks, Buckley, Blaney, Kirk, Cawley (Pijnaker 79), Morahan (Mata 69), McDonnell (Barlow 79), O’Sullivan, Keena, Fitzgerald.

Bookings: McDonnell, Mata

Scorers: Blaney 4, Mata 90

Subs not used: Bolger, Brush, Byrne, Clancy, Heaney, Liivak, McCarthy, Walsh.

MOTHERWELL: Kelly, Mugabi (Solholm Johansen 71), Lamie, Carroll, McGinn, Slattery, Maguire (Goss 69), Spittal (Shields 46), Tierney (Efford), Van Veen, Morris.

Bookings: Morris, McGinn

Scorers:

Subs not used: Campbell, Connelly, Cornelius, Fox, Mahon, O’Donnell, Ojala.

Ref: Bojan Pandzic

HT: 1-0

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