Sligo Rovers stretched their unbeaten run at home to ten as they drew with Bohemians at the Showgrounds. The last side to beat the Bit O’Red in Sligo back in April, Bohs took the lead courtesy of a Danny Mandriou spot-kick on 37 minutes. But Rover
Former Sligo Rovers man Keith Ward earned a point for Bohemians against the Bit O’Red at The Showgrounds.
Mikey Drennan had given Sligo the lead with just three minutes played.
The hosts knew a response to Friday night’s 5-0 hammering at Oriel Park against Dundalk was vital coming into this game, and given their abysmal home form this season, they were desperate to give their fans something to cheer about before the season ends.
The Gyspies have been one of the in-form teams since the mid-season break, and had only suffered one league defeat in their last seven games before they travelled to The Showgrounds.
Rovers were managerless coming into this game, but the man reportedly set to take over at the helm, Liam Buckley, was watching on as they took the lead against Bohs with just three minutes played.
Mikey Drennan, left unmarked outside the box, spotted the ‘keeper Colin McCabe slightly off his line and went for goal, and much to the surprise of The Showgrounds, his weak looking shot just trickled past the Bohs netminder to give the hosts the lead.
Keith Long’s side forced Ed McGinty into a number of decent saves early on, with Dan Casey and Dinny Corcoran going close, but the Donegal man was eventually beaten with just over a half hour played.
Referee Paul McLaughlin pointed to the spot after Kyle Callan-McFadden was adjudged to have fouled Dinny Corcoran in the box, and Keith Ward’s perfect penalty made it 1-1.
Sligo could have taken the lead again just before half-time, but Drennan’s volley was pushed wide by McCabe in the Bohs goal.
The hosts wanted a penalty with over an hour played when youngster Liam Kerrigan went down like a sack of spuds in the Gypsies’ box, but the referee was not interested.
Sligo can still catch Derry City as a result of their defeat to Bray, while the Gypsies can still be caught in 5th spot with just one game remaining.
Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Kyle Callan McFadden, Seamus Sharkey, John Mahon, Patrick McClean; Jack Keaney, Lee J Lynch, David Cawley (Caolan McAleer, 63), Rhys McCabe; Liam Kerrigan (Darren Collins, 75), Mikey Drennan.
Bohemians: Colin McCabe; Dan Casey, Rob Cornwall, Ian Morris, Robbie McCourt; Danny Grant, JJ Lunney, Oscar Brennan, Keith Ward (Kevin Devaney, 67) Eoghan Stokes; Dinny Corcoran (Christian Magerusan, 84)
Referee: Paul McLaughlin.
