Sligo Rovers 2
Bohemians 0
SLIGO ROVERS GOT the post-Dave Robertson era off to a good start with a 2-0 victory over Bohemian FC at The Showgrounds.
Jonah Ayunga gave the hosts the lead on 12 minutes with his first goal for the club, with Michael Leahy’s second-half strike securing just a second win of the season for Rovers.
The Bit O’ Red parted with manager Robertson during the week following a ‘review of the season’, and are currently on the look out once again for a new man to take the reins.
Assistant manager Declan McIntyre took charge of the team to face Bohs, along with Brian Dorrian.
Rovers came into this game searching for just their second win of the season, while Keith Long’s side travelled to Sligo looking to bounce back from a 4-0 defeat at the hands of St Patrick’s Athletic on their last league outing.
But it was the hosts who got off to a better start. Kenyan striker Ayunga dispossessed Daniel Byrne and surged forward, despite pressure from two Bohs defenders. The Brighton loanee slotted the ball past Shane Supple in goal to make it 1-0 to Rovers after 12 minutes.
Defender Mick Leahy almost made it 2-0 to the hosts just seconds later, when he got on the end of a Tobi Adebayo-Rowling cross but the ball was snatched from his toe inches from the goal-line by the Bohs defence.
The Gypsies knew they would have to up the ante in the second-half if they were to get something from this game, and they took control of proceedings almost immediately after the re-start.
Oscar Brennan and Dean Casey both came close to equalising for Keith Long’s side – but it will be Derek Pender who will be kicking himself the most – his close range header just drifted over the Sligo post.
Despite being under pressure for most of the second period, Rovers looked dangerous when attacking, and they soon doubled their lead.
Kieran Sadlier’s corner was missed by Shane Supple, and Leahy was on hand to to score a second of the night for the hosts.
Sligo Rovers: Micheal Schlingermann, Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, Michael Leahy, Kyle Callan McFadden, Gary Boylan, Liam Martin, John Russell, Craig Roddan, Kieran Sadlier, Raffaele Cretaro (Chris Kenny, 72), Jonah Ayunga (Mathew Stevens, 92).
Subs: Shaun Patton, Paul Doyle, John Mahon, Jack Keaney, Mikey Place.
Bohemian; Shane Supple, Derek Pender, Lorcan Fitzgerald, Robert Cornwall, Daniel Byrne, Kaleem Simon (Stephen Nolan, 87), Patrick Kavanagh, Dean Casey (Keith Ward, 81), George Poynton (Philip Gannon, 87), Oscar Brennan, Fuad Sule.
Subs: Greg Murray, Jamie Hamilton, Dylan Hayes, Eoghan Morgan.