Sligo Rovers Vs. Bohs

[sligoman]

Well lads, can't wait for this game. Should be good craic. How many of ye will be travelling down? Hopefully will be a good crowd so we can get a good atmosphere going:).

See ye Saturday;).

[CharlesThompson]

At a uess I'd say there will be about 500 of us. Really looking forward to it now.

[The Stars]

where are ye staying in sligo?

[sligoman]

Sligo Rovers made the return they wished for taking all three points in a competitive match against Bohemians tonight in The Showgrounds.

The newcomers to the Premier Division were far from overawed by the vastly more experienced Bohemians side, and although the Dublin side could have taken a point, Rovers were worth the win.

Sean Connor started with four of his new signings, Gavin Peers, Chris Turner, Adam Hughes and Keith Foy and all more than played their part blending in well with the spine of the team that were crowned First Division champions last November.

The visitors started brightest and probably had most of the possession with Rovers relying on counter attacks in the early exchanges of the first half. The home side’s first break in anger coming after ten minutes when a quick thinking Chris Turner set Kudozovic free down the left to force a corner. A minute later the home side defence found themselves outnumbered but Harkin failed to take advantage.

Bohs should have gone ahead on twenty minutes when a Rice throw-in from the right was flicked on by an unmarked Kevin Hunt for Tony Grant to head goalwards, only to be cleared off the line by Gavin Peers.

A couple of minutes later, the Bit O’Red countered when Flannery put McTiernan clear, but neither Flannery nor Kudozovic could take advantage.

The home side settled as the half went on and only had to deal with an Arkins shot fired over on the half hour.

As Rovers grew in confidence they had a great chance to go ahead on thirty five minutes, when a Kudozovic ball in to the heart of the Bohs defence wasn’t cleared and O’Brien parried into the path of Turner but his shot went wide.

It was Turner again as the half drew to a close winning the ball in the middle before feeding Kudozovic whose clever flick sent McTiernan free but O’Brien was equal to the low shot.

Just as the first half looked like it was going to end scoreless, Rovers went ahead. thanks to An in-swinging pinpoint Foy free kick from the left swerved in at the back post where Adam Hughes was quickest to scramble it into the net. It wasn’t pretty, but no-one was complaining when Hugo Whoriskey blew the half time whistle seconds later.

Bohs came out quickest at the beginning of the second forty-five, pushing Rovers on to the back foot with their best effort coming from Gareth Farrelly whose shot from distance was well-saved by O’Hara.

McTiernan battled hard on fifty minutes to send O’Grady into space, but McGuinness recovered to put the ball out for a corner

The game continued to be competitive but chances were at a premium, with Rovers smothering the Bohemians attacks and Rovers breaking down in the final third.

As the clocked counted down, the heat got turned up, first with Turner bursting through before his run was halted on the edge of the box. Then it was Kudozovic, forcing a save from O’Brien when he cut in from the left with ten minutes to go.

Bohs had much of the possession of the half, but Rovers remained defiant and the visitors had to wait until injury time to hit the target when O’Keefe’s cross from the right was headed towards the top corner by Irish under 21 International Stephan Ward, but John O’Hara was equal to it, stretching to tip spectacularly over the bar.

There were as many nerves in the five minutes stoppage time as there was in Twickenham earlier this evening and happily for the home side, they held on to notch up their first points in the Premier Division in six seasons.

Sligo Rovers
John O’Hara, Gavin Peers, Keith Foy, Michael McNamara, Liam Burns (Jamie McKenzie 67 mins), Conor O’Grady, Adam Hughes, Fahrudin Kudozovic (Gary Curran 87 mins), Sean Flannery (Darren Mansaram 73 mins), Paul McTiernan, Chris Turner
Subs not used:, Matt Joyce, Richard Brush

Bohemians
Stephen O’Brien, Stephen Rice, Des Byrne, Kevin Hunt, Barry Ferguson, Jason McGuinness (Thomas Heary 85 mins), Fergal Harkin (Aidan O’Keefe), Gareth Farrelly, Vinny Arkins (John Paul Kelly), Tony Grant, Stephen Ward
Subs not used:, Matt Gregg, Mark O’Grien

Referee:
Hugo Whoriskey

Bookings:
Sligo Rovers
Chris Turner, Darren Mansaram

Bohemians
Kevin Hunt

http://www.sligorovers.com/match/match%20stats/2006/20060318_bohs.htm

[Red Soldier]

few bevvies rogue trader?:D cant blame ya,great result tonight just wish i was there to see it.cant wait to get home at easter and get to a few games!!!