David Goulden at the Showgrounds
Lys Mousset stuck in the 88th minute of this game as Sligo Rovers were beaten late on by Bohemians at the Showgrounds.
To make matters worse for the Bit O’Red, Owen Elding saw an early penalty hit the crossbar as Rovers fell to their second defeat on the bounce.
Rovers came into this game on the back of just one win and two draws in their last five, while the visiting Gypsies were very much in the in-form side here with four victories in their last five outings.
Rovers boss John Russell, without centre half pairing John Mahon and Ollie Denham made two changes from their defeat to Shamrock Rovers. Jake Doyle-Hayes returned from suspension while Harvey Lintott made his first start in nine games. Midfielder Conor Malley made the bench having been dropped from the squad for the trip to Tallaght.
A resurgent Bohs named both Rob Cornwall and Colm Whelan in their starting team, their only changes from the late win in Galway five evenings previous.
Eleven years to the day since their last trophy win in the form of the final edition of the Setanta Sports Cup, Rovers went within inches of taking the lead in this one when Elding’s penalty after three minutes came off Kacper Choraka’s crossbar after Cian Kavangh was sent sprawling inside the Bohs area by Rob Cornwall.
The Dubliners finished the opening half on the front foot, but Rovers did fashion another good chance on 26 minutes when Kavanagh stabbed Elding’s cross narrowly past the post.
Aware a win would move them within striking distance of the top two, the Phibsboro outfit asserted themselves as the half wore on.
Reece Hutchinson swept a Dayle Rooney effort off his own line after goalkeeper Sam Sargeant had gone travelling. While the net minder diverted Dawson Devoy’s powerful volley over his goal on the next attack.
The Dalymount outfit continued to press but Rovers dealt well with anything Bohs could muster. Jordan Flores’ drive took a lick off Elding’s heel as it fizzed wide, followed by another decent save from Sargeant who pushed a Cornwall header away from danger.
Sargeat was involved in proceedings again on the hour when he produced a magnificent double save to keep Rovers alive in the tie. Cornwall’s initial blast was parried by the former Waterford man and Sargeant repeated the trick when his timely reaction kept out Rooney’s follow up.
Rovers had plenty of play in and around the Bohs box but couldn’t manufacture the final ball to beat Chorzka.
The winning strike arrived two minutes from time when substitute Mousset arrived in time to volley past Sargeant for another late win on the road for the visitors.
Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Harvey Lintott (Wilson Waweru 84), Gareth McElroy, Conor Reynolds (Kyle McDonagh 78), Reece Hutchinson; Jake Doyle-Hayes, Ronan Manning (Jad Hakiki 68); Will Fitzgerald, Francely Lomboto (Stephen Mallon 68); Owen Elding, Cian Kavanagh (Conor Malley 78).
Bohs: Kacper Chorazka; Niall Morahan, Rob Cornwall, Sean Grehan, Ross Tierney; Adam McDonnell (Keith Buckley 78), Dawson Devoy; Ross Tierney (Archie Meekison 83), James Clarke (Lys Mousset 78), Dayle Rooney; Colm Whelan (Rhys Brennan 59).
Referee: Mark Houlihan.
Attendance: 2,056.