League of Ireland - Sligo Rovers 1 Bohemians 0:ALAN KEANE'S first-half penalty gave relegation-threatened Sligo Rovers a rare victory over league leaders Bohemians at the Showgrounds last night.
Keane put the home side ahead in the 17th minute after Jason McGuinness brought down Raffeale Cretaro.
Bohemians had looked the sharper side in the opening stages, with Glen Crowe’s effort put behind for a corner in the seventh minute. However, Sligo came into the game through some clever play by Joe Kendrick and Eoin Doyle.
Jason Byrne went close for the visitors after 25 minutes before a smart save by Bohemians goalkeeper Brian Murphy denied Doyle at the other end.
Brian Cash was only narrowly off target for the home side in the 36th minute and the resultant corner by the same player was safely gathered by the Bohemians goalkeeper.
The league leaders piled on the pressure in the closing stages of the first half with Mark Rossitter missing the target with a rasping shot. Doyle grazed the Bohemians post in the 66th minute before a rapid counter-attack by the visitors had the Sligo defence at sixes and sevens, but Anto Murphy headed over the bar
Rossitter and Jason Byrne had great chances to level the match after 71 minutes, with Byrne forcing Sligo goalkeeper Richard Brush to make a fine save, but the home side hung on for their first win over Bohemians this season.
SLIGO ROVERS:Brush, Boco, Kendrick, Peers, Keane, O'Grady, Cash (Ryan, 61 mins), Ventre, Blinkhorn (Turner, 78 mins), Cretero, Doyle,
BOHEMIANS:Brian Murphy, Rossitter, Powell, Keegan, McGuinness, Shelley, A Murpny (Fenn, 80 mins), Ndo, Crowe (Madden, 75 mins), Byrne, Brennan (Deegan, 61 mins)
Referee:T Connolly (Dublin).
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