AN EARLY STRIKE from Sligo Rovers midfielder Raffaele Cretaro put the Airtricity champions on course for a relatively straightforward win over Bohemians at Dalymount Park.
Bit O’Red scored through Cretaro after two minutes and netted twice more, through Aaron Greene and Anthony Elding, to emerge from the tie as 3-0 victors.
The win is Rovers’ fifth in succession and sees them extend their lead atop the league. Bohemians are stuck on four points after five matches.
The game was just two minutes old when Cretaro pounced on a hesitant Roberto Lopes in the Bohs box to nip in and slam the ball home.
Veteran defender Owen Heary, who had to go off at the break, kept his side in touch during an impressive opening half hour from Sligo. His timely tackles and clearances were vital.
The resistance lasted until 30 minutes when Greene picked up the ball at the edge of the Bohemians box and dispatched a sweet, swivelling strike.
Elding strikes again
It was more of the same in the second-half as Lopes was forced to intercept and snuff out a move instigated by David Cawley.
The third goal always looked likely and it duly arrived. Cretaro was the creator, on 70 minutes, as he chipped to the back post for Elding to power a header home.
Elding searched for his seventh goal of the season in the closing stages but Dean Delany stood firm.
The challenge has been thrown down to nearest rivals Derry City but the Candystripes met it well and hammered Shelbourne 4-0 at The Brandywell.
