| Bohs take three points in enthralling encounter |
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| Friday, 21 March 2008 | |
 Sligo Rovers were dealt a body blow tonight as Bohemians came away with all three points in an enthralling encounter at The Showgrounds. No one would have argued with that result at the end of the first forty five, but the home side were unlucky not to share in the spoils after a much improved second half display.
A brisk wind and a cold night didn’t deter a sizeable crowd making the trip up Church Hill, but the chill wind didn’t deter the visitors who dominated the first forty five for long periods. Rovers were a different team after the break and but for a devastatingly simple Glen Crowe winner against the run of play, the ending may have been different. The visitors were the quickest out of the blocks pressuring Rovers into the concession of a series of corners in the first five minutes but apart for a couple of Byrne half-chances, Brush’s goal went unthreatened. A Kudozoivc free kick on seven minutes was rolled to Coleman but his effort was deflected out, allowing John Paul Kelly to break down the right but Cretaro covered back well to deny him.. Rovers countered immediately and a flighted cross field ball by Peers was controlled superbly by Boco who played it inside to Kudozvoic. Faz linked with Cretaro who found Boco again in space on the left wing, but his in-swigning cross was cleared by Powell. It was the Bohs left back who broke moments later sending in a pinpoint cross to Glen Crowe, whose glancing header from close range forced a good save from Brush. Crowe caused the turmoil in the Rovers hearts soon after, this time directing a set-piece goalward, but Peers was there to clear it off the line. The Bit O’Red’s first real crack at the Boh’s goal was midway through the half when Cretaro rose highest on the left to head a Coleman cross narrowly wide. But the Dubliners were sharper and first to most balls and got the lead that their invention probably deserved on twenty seven minutes when an O’Donnell corner from the right found Kelly at the back post and his header back across the box was met by Liam Burns who blasted it into the net off the crossbar. Rovers came into the game as the half progressed with Boco and Kudozovic breaking through the Bohs back four a couple of time, but neither were able to trouble Murphy’s goal, the best chance instead coming to Almeida who got on the end of a Kudozovic corner, but he failed to hit the target. The second half couldn’t have started better as the Bit O’Red drew level on forty eight minutes. It came from a throw-in from Murphy on the right hand side in to the box. His name-sake in the Boh’s goal failed to come for it and following a scramble, Rafael Cretaro stabbed it into to the net. The celebrations didn’t last too long as Bohs’ had the ball in the net shortly after but the referee adjudged that Brush was impeded and the goal didn’t stand. It was Rovers turn on sixty one minutes to have one disallowed when Almeida converted a Butler free-kick but a free-out was awarded for pushing in the box and Bohs broke immediately down the field to edge in front. The quick ball out caught Rovers unawares with Chris Turner feeding a simple ball through to Glen Crowe who slotted it under the advancing Brush and in to the net. Heads didn’t drop though and the home side continued to look lively with the best chance falling to Cretaro who hit the woodwork. Rovers made a double substitution on seventy three minutes when Judge and Doherty entered the fray forcing a change of formation with Boco moving back into midfield. The home side continued in the ascendancy, and Seamus Coleman almost got the equaliser on seventy nine raiding down the right before playing a neat one two with Judge on the edge of the box before directing just over the bar. Brian Cash broke through with only three minutes to go but he was on his own and despite being forced wide, he fired a rasper just over the bar. The countdown to the final whistle was heart-breaking for the home team and supporters and ultimately they ran out of time against a Bohemians side that looked a lot more dangerous and hungry than Drogheda United last week. Next up for Rovers is a League Cup first round clash against Kildrum Tigers at 4pm on Easter Monday in Dry Arch Park near Letterkenny Teams Sligo Rovers: Richard Brush, Seamus Coleman, Chris Butler, Gavin Peers, Mauro Almeida, Conor O’Grady (Matt Judge), Anto Murphy (Brian Cash 75 min), Danny Ventre, Fahrudin Kudozovic, Romauld Boco, Rafaele Cretaro (Sean Doherty 73 mins) Subs not used:Jamie McKenzie, Patrick Jennings Bohemian FC Brian Murphy, Owen Heary, Conor Powell, Mark Rossiter, Liam Burns, Ken Oman, John Paul Kelly, Chris Turner, Glen Crowe, Jason Byrne (Darren Mansaram 88 min), Stephen O’Donnell (Harpal Singh 82 min) Subs not used:Jason McGuinness, Michael McGinely, Chris Konopka Referee Hugo Whoriskey Bookings Sligo Rovers Danny Ventre, Gavin Peers Bohemian FC John Paul Kelly, Liam Burns Report by Paraic Casey |
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