Sligo Rovers 3 - 1 Bohemians

Homepage Image courtesy of John Doyle

Sligo Rovers restored their nine point lead at the top of the table on Monday evening with a 3-1 victory over Bohemians.

The home side were in complete control for the majority of the game, in particular the first half which Mark Quigley, Rafael Cretaro and Lee Lynch all scored. Derek Pender grabbed an injury time goal for the visitors.

Rovers started the brighter of the two sides and took the lead after just 12 minutes when Lee Lynch delivered a cross into the box which was met by a brilliant Mark Quigley header as he placed the ball well beyond the reach of Craig Sexton.

Bohemians almost equalised just minutes later when Dave Mulcahy tried to loop a header towards an open net, but Gavin Peers was on hand to make a miraculous goal line clearance.

Rovers were completely dominating the game and deservedly extended their lead just after 25 minutes of play when a tame Rafael Cretaro shot from the right hand side of the box amazingly bounced over the arm of Sexton and rolled into the back of the net.

It was almost looking to be all too easy for The Bit O’Red, and Lee Lynch extended the lead as Rafael Cretaro laid a ball off to him before turning a defender and shooting low into the bottom corner to give the League leaders a 3 goal advantage at half-time.

The visitors almost pulled one back on the hour mark when Derek Pender sent a scorching shot towards goal, but it cannoned off the post.

Cretaro was unlucky not to score his second just minutes later when he got on the end of a pin point cross from Pascal Millien, but his header went just inches wide the far post.

Mark Quigley almost scored an ambitious effort from all of 40 yards when he spotted Craig Sexton off his line, and he almost beat him too, but the ‘keeper did just enough to stop it from hitting the back of the net.

Bohemians did manage to score a consolation goal with the last kick off the game, Pender scoring a tap in following a scramble in the Rovers box.

Sligo Rovers: Gary Rogers; Alan Keane (Marty Owens 85), Gavin Peers, Jason McGuinness, Seamus Conneely; Rafael Cretaro, Lee Lynch, Joseph Ndo (David Cawley 71), Danny Ventre, Pascal Millien (Liam Buchanan 71); Mark Quigley.
Subs not used: Richard Brush, Jeff Henderson, John Dillon, Ryan Connolly.

Bookings: Peers (48).

Bohemians: Craig Sexton; Dave Mulcahy, Evan McMillan, Roberto Lopez; Derek Pender, Michael Barker, Danny Joyce, Keith Buckley, Luke Byrne (Kevin Devaney 69); Dinny Corcoran (Dave Scully 76), John O’Connor (Keith Ward 81).
Subs not used: Andy McNulty, Karl Moore, Andy Mulligan, Stephen Traynor.

Bookings: Mulcahy (88).

Referee: Damien Hancock.
Attendance: 3,127
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Gavin Peers (Sligo Rovers).