The match was given extra spice by the fact it was former manager Sean Connor's first game against the Bit O'Red , Bohs also had former Rovers hitman Darren Mansaram on the bench .

Both sides had several chances in a lively first half , with Bohs coming close early on as Glen Crowe curled a shot just off the bar.

Next it was the turn of Faz Kudozovic whose rasping effort from 25 yards went just wide of the post.

Joxer Kelly found a bit of space for himself moments later but Richard Brush was equal to the task.

 Rovers flying winger Steve Manson was played in  by Adam Hughes but his shot was too close to Brian Murphy to cause Bohs alarm.

Rovers had plenty of possession in this spell and were playing nice passing football. However clear cut chances were few and far between.

Chris Turner and Raf Cretaro exchanged passes to releas Turner for a shot which was well saved by Murphy in the Gypsies goal .

Rovers had a lucky escape minutes later  when Jamie McKenzie miraculously scooped the ball over the bar from a yard out when Bohs seemed certain to score.

It was slightly against the run of play then that  Bohs took the lead , when Kingsberry crossed on the right hand side for Kelly to head home well.

A solid Keith Foy block inside the box denied Kingsberry with the first chance of note in the second half after 53 minutes. 

McGuinness then brought a save from Brush that he knew little about with a close range header as Bohs pressed for a second.

Bohs captain Kevin Hunt then came on for Kelly in the 55th minute, while McGuinness headed marginally wide from a right wing corner minutes later with the home side in the ascendancy.

However, a pacy, incisive break down the left by Piotr Bajdziak saw Hughes' drilled shot smothered by Murphy.

Rovers had another lucky escape when Neale Fenn hit the post with a header from two yards having done the hard part, while Hunt tested Brush with a powerful drive minutes later.

Sligoman Mark Rossiter having come on as sub  sent Kingsberry through with a penetrative ball, but impressive young right-back Seamus Coleman kept his nerve to deny his opponent and clear the danger.

Kudozovic then did brilliantly down the right to pull the ball back but the well-placed Bajdziak failed to keep his shot on target and the chance was gone.

A full-blooded challenge by Hunt on Turner saw Rovers earn a free-kick 25 yards out, but specialist Foy could only hit the wall and the follow up was cleared.

Rovers kept pushing for the equaliser but it was in vain as time ran out on them .Next up for the Bit O Red is an encounter with high-flying Drogheda United.

Bohemians: Brian Murphy, Owen Heary (capt), Dessie Byrne, Fergal Harkin (Mark Rossiter 70 mins),  Neale Fenn ( Darren Mansaram 65 mins), Glen Crowe,  John Paul Kelly ( Kevin Hunt 55 mins),  Chris Kingsberry,  Jason McGuinness,  Dean Pooley,  Stephen Rice. Subs not used:  Thomas Heary,  Lee Boyle

Sligo Rovers: Richard Brush,  Seamus Coleman,  Keith Foy,  Adam Hughes,  Jamie McKenzie,  Zoltan Vassas,  Rafael Cretaro,  Steve Manson ( Choice Aisien 60 mins),  Chris Turner ( Jason McCartney 86 mins), Fahrudin Kudozovic,  Piotr Bajdziak. Subs not used:  Sean Kelly,  Kevin Julian, Tomislav Arcaba