Sligo Rovers 1 - 0 Bohemians

• David Goulden
• Tue, Sep 01 2009


Bohemians travelled to The Showground Tuesday night looking to open up another seven point lead at the top of the League of Ireland Premier Division. Sligo went into the game knowing that a result could possibly be a season turner.

Sligo made a positive start to the game, with an early free kick testing Brian Murphy’s defence in the second minute. Four minutes later, a Joe Kendrick cross found Matthew Blinkhorn at the back post. His header was too tame to trouble Murphy in the Bohs goal. Moments later, Bohs had their first chance, as Anto Murphy’s cross was cleared behind the Shed End goal by Danny Ventre. The resulting corner was wastefully headed over by Jason McGuinness.

Rovers took the lead in the nineteenth minute. Raf Cretaro was bundled over in the box as he made his way towards the Bohs goal, by Jason McGuiness. Alan Keane slotted the penalty to Murphy’s left to send the Showgrounds faithful into raptures. In the twenty eighth minute, Sligo had another opportunity after some neat play between Boco, Cash, and O’Grady led to the Sligo captain heading into Murphy’s arms, as Rovers looked to improve on their one goal lead. For their part, Bohs had chances. Glenn Crowe screwing a fine chance wide in the thirty second minute, when he had time and space to control the ball inside the Sligo box.

In the forty third minute, after an Alan Keane foul, a Killian Brennan free kick was palmed around the home side goal by Richard Brush. From the resulting Rovers attack, Danny Ventre was booked somewhat unfortunately by Thomas Connolly for protesting a foul given against the Sligo midfielder.

Sligo were living dangerously at the end of the first half, Richard Brush lucky not to concede as he flapped at several crosses. But the home side deservedly kept the lead until the half-time whistle.

The second half began as the first did, with Sligo having the first opportunity of the half, Matthew Blinkhorn found himself with only Brian Shelley and Brian Murphy to beat, but the Sligo target-mans’ shot was straight at the Bohs keeper.

Bohs were trying to work the ball through their playmaker Joseph Ndo, but Sligo were managing to keep the Cameroon man quiet.

In the sixty seventh minute, Sligo had an appeal for a penalty turned down, as Brian Shelley’s arm seemed to make contact with the ball. A minute later, a suspect Alan Keane clearance hit Romuald Boco in the back, the ball ending up against the cross-bar as Sligo went to a five man midfield.

Bohs should have been level in the seventy third minute, Mark Rossiters’ shot was not dealt with by Brush in the Sligo goal, Byrne’s reply was too weak, and the ball was palmed over by Brush.

Bohs changed things round, bringing Paddy Madden on for the tired looking Glenn Crowe in the seventy sixth minute, although Sligo had ideas of their own as they brought on Rob Turner for Matt Blinkhorn in the eightieth minute to add weight up front. Turner almost found himself one on one with Murphy in the eighty third minute, but Eoin Doyle put too much weight behind his through ball.

Bohs searched for an equaliser through Joey Ndo, Jason Byrne and Paddy Madden, but Sligo held out for a famous victory.

Sligo Rovers: Brush, Boco, Keane, Peers, Kendrick, Doyle, O’ Grady, Ventre, Cash(Ryan 61), Blinkhorn(Turner 80), Cretaro Subs: Camano, Marshall, Kelly, Ryan, Turner

Bohemians: Murphy, Rossiter, Powell, McGuinness, Shelley, Ndo, Murphy(Fenn 81), Keegan, Brennan (Deegan 63), Crowe(Madden 76), Byrne Subs: Deegan, Madden, Fenn, Gregg, Cronin

Referee: T.Connolly

Attendance: 1004

Extratime.ie Man Of The Match: Gavin Peers