Bohemians 3-1 Sligo Rovers

• Gordon Hunt
• Sat, Oct 31 2009


Bohemians all but secured the title on Friday night, in a game that ended as early as the ninth minute, as Sligo fell apart conceding twice in a minute. Paddy Madden and Joseph Ndo each netted with fine finishes before Jason Byrne made sure on the half hour mark with Bohs’ third. Sligo did get one back, through Dean Marshall, but Pat Fenlon’s side comfortably held out to take the game and, barring a catastrophe, the league, with one game to spare.

Bohemians started brightly and had calls for an early penalty turned down in the first minute, with winger Killian Brennan going down in the area before being booked for diving.

Bohs kept a high tempo and put Rovers’ players under pressure all over the park. After dominating from the start, Bohs opened the scoring in the ninth minute. Killian Brennan’s corner was met by Paddy Madden, who saw his header scrambled off the line. From the resulting corner the ball made its way back out to Brennan on the right. His fine cross found Madden free at the back post to easily head Bohs in front.

Sligo lost possession immediately after the tip off. Madden won the ball and played in Joseph Ndo who charged at goal and lobbed Michael Schlingermann to make it two nil.

Bohs were in complete control, and Jason Byrne should have made it three after twenty minutes when another ball from the right, again from Brennan, was headed over from just six yards

On the half hour though, Byrne did make it three, Goal scorers Madden and Ndo combined well before the latter rolled it behind the defence and into Byrne’s path, who placed it in the far corner.

Sligo were beaten to almost every ball in the first half, but it was their determination which got them a goal back just after the break. A high clearance from their own box was chased down by dean Marshall who, despite pressure from the defence, managed to lob Brian Murphy and reduce Rovers’ deficit.

The urgency which Bohs displayed in the first half was gone and Sligo began to gradually grow into the game without ever really threatening an upset. Still, Bohs had the best chances. On fifty minutes Madden picked up the ball at the halfway line. He ran at goal and turned his man on the edge of the area before seeing his goal bound effort well saved.

Two minutes later and again Madden could have scored. A wonderful move with Ndo, Byrne and the excellent Gary Deegan, saw the three exchange quick one touch passes before Byrne found Madden free in the area but his volley was saved.

Sligo rarely created any clear chances throughout the game and as word filtered through from Tallaght that Galway United had done Bohs a huge favour, the game passed by without much incident with Sligo well beaten and Bohs merely counting down the final minutes.

extratime.ie man of the match: Gary Deegan

Bohemians: B. Murphy, Shelley, Powell, A. Murphy, Byrne, Brennan, Madden (Crowe 74), Cronin, Deegan, Ndo (Rossiter 84), Keegan

Subs not used: Gregg, Fenn, Heary

Sligo Rovers: Schlingermann, Boco, Kendrick, Camano, Keane, O’Grady, Meenan, Ryan (cash 45), Turner, Marshall, Doyle

Subs not used: Cretaro, Blinkhorn, Rafter, Peers