David Goulden at Dalymount Park, Dublin.
Sligo Rovers battled back against ten man Bohemians to become the first team this season to beat the Dubliners as the Bit O’Red picked up three crucial points at Dalymount Park on Friday evening.
Bohs’ Zane Myers had put the Gypsies in front on eight minutes, but a hard working Rovers burrowed their way back into this game courtesy of captain Will Fitzgerald’s second goal of the season six minutes from the break.
Loanee centre half Sean McHale enjoyed one his finest games since joining from St Pat’s and capped off a solid individual performance with what turned out to be the game’s winning goal, when he finished off Fitzgerald’s cross five minutes into the second half.
Former Rovers midfielder Adam McDonnell was sent off for Bohs on 72 when referee Neil Doyle showed him a second yellow following a clumsy late challenge on Jeannot Esua.
This victory sees the away side move to within two points of eighth place and four away from bottom side Waterford who visit the Showgrounds next Saturday night.
Boss John Russell made two changes from the stalemate with Derry City on Easter Monday. Cian Kavanagh, who was not expected to make the match day squad, recovered from injury in time to lead the line. While Carl McHugh returned to the starting eleven for the first time since the defeat away to Pat’s in place of James McManus who was ineligible due to the terms of his loan.
The game also saw the timely return to the bench of both Jad Hakiki and Shane Blaney, both of whom have missed the last number of weeks with knocks.
Undefeated before this game, it was the hosts who threatened first when Conor Parsons bent his early effort around Sam Sargeant’s post after a one-two with Jordan Flores out on Rovers’ right side. While Alan Reynolds’ side hit the lead when Sadou Diallo played in Myers whose high shot ricochet off Sargeant’s crossbar on its way to goal.
The Rovers goalkeeper was kept occupied for a period and pulled off a wonderful two handed stop to deny Darragh Power before Ross Tierney shot wide from close range following a Parsons corner.
Undeterred, Rovers dug in and pulled out a deserved leveller on 39 minutes when some fancy footwork from the in-form Esua allowed him to find Alex Nolan. The winger’s cross landed in front of Bohs keeper Kacper Chorazka but it was skipper Fitzgerald who reacted quickest to poke the ball beyond the Polish goalkeeper for his second of the year.
Sargeant was at it again moments later when he threw a leg at Tierney’s next go at goal, with the former Motherwell man looking favourite to come out on top. The Londoner dived to his right but kept his body as wide as possible to deflect away Tierney’s placed effort.
The second period was just five minutes old when Rovers went ahead.
Fitzgerald the supplier this time as he neatly nodded Archie Meekison’s corner to the back post for McHale to head past the frustrated Chorazka for the Meath man’s first goal for the club.
Bohs had plenty of possession for the remainder of this tie, but a decisive Sligo were in no mood to let their lead slip.
Marcus Strods’ pot-shot from 18 yards was simple for Sargeant before Bohs were reduced to ten when McDonnell crashed into Esua as he attempted to clear play.
Referee Doyle decided to add nine minutes on at the end of the game, but even this wasn’t enough time for the Phibsboro men to find an equaliser. Sargeant plucked a late Ryan Burke header from the sky after Burke was picked out by Power from outside the Rovers area.
There was further good news for Rovers in this second half when both Hakiki and Blaney were sprung for the bench following injury lay-offs.
Rovers’ next game is at the Showgrounds on Saturday April 18th as we face Waterford in what will be a huge night of football at the Showgrounds. Kick-off is 7.45pm.
Bohemians: Kacper Chorazka, Darragh Power, Sam Todd, Patrick Hickey, Jordan Flores, Sadou Diallo (Ryan Burke, 51), Adam McDonnell, Ross Tierney, Zane Myers (Cian Byrne, 75), Connor Parsons, Marcus Strods, (46), Colm Whelan (Douglas James-Taylor, 63).
Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant, Ollie Denham, Gareth McElroy, Sean McHale. Jeannot Esua, Daire Patton (Guilherme Priosti, 90) , Carl McHugh (Kyle McDonagh, 46), Archie Meekison, Will Fitzgerald, Alex Nolan (Shane Blaney, 63), Cian Kavanagh (Jad Hakiki, 81).
Referee: Neil Doyle.