This fixture was billed as a relegation six-pointer, despite the fact that the clocks only went forward last week and each side had only played 7 of their 36 games before tonight’s clash in Dublin 7.
And it did live up to its billing, with these sides displaying the kind of nervous energy, desire and edginess that you might expect of a game later in the season.
Bohs, fighting for manager Alan Reynolds job after chants of ‘We want Reynolds out’ last week, started incredibly well, with Colm Whelan, Dayle Rooney, Dawson Devoy and Ross Tierney buzzing around the final third full of intent. Devoy whipped in a cross-cum shot from a dead ball after two minutes and Whelan was the quickest to react after Conor Walsh kept the Meath man’s effort out.
Dalymount was rocking and Sligo were at sixes and sevens. After Devoy was sent away by a direct Seán Grehan ball two minutes later, the ball made its way to Tierney who wrapped his left boot around it and found the far corner from the edge of the box.
Devoy had a chance to make it 3 before the clock had reached 10 minutes but after surviving that, the Bit O’Red started to grow into the game. Striker Owen Elding looked dangerous as Bohs’ defensive vulnerabilities creeped in.
The goal unsurprisingly came in after twenty three minutes, with a simple Ronan Manning ball in behind exposing the home side’s weak defensive line, allowing Francely Lomboto to finish past Kacper Chorazka. Before the half-hour mark, Sligo had equalised, with Elding racing away on the counter and past Chorazka to knock the ball into an empty net.
Bohs responded well immediately after blowing their two goal lead, with Devoy having another two attempts and Grehan having a chance as well. The last period of the half before the break was disrupted by an injury to debutant Alex Lacey, with Leigh Kavanagh replacing him.
The Gypsies started the second half sharply as well, with Tierney flashing a dangerous free-kick wide after Whelan was dragged down when potentially through on goal.
Sligo injuries and game management disrupted the second half massively. Harvey Lintott, who had only replaced Oskar van Hattum at half-time, had to be replaced himself after six minutes by Daire Patten.
Bohs didn’t regain their lead until the 74th minute but they undoubtedly had the better of the second-half, with John Mountney and substitute Lys ‘The Moose’ Mousset had big chances while Tierney and Grehan had more good efforts.
It was no surprise when Bohs went ahead, and even less of a surprise that it was Tierney. Sharp passing and movement, primarily involving Devoy and Whelan, allowed Tierney to check back in on his right foot and fire home.
Sligo pushed bodies forward in the last ten minutes – and then into the 9 additional minutes but struggled to create clear openings. Bohs were anxious and uneasy but Chorazka didn’t have a save to make. This was helped by an injury to Grehan which disrupted Sligo’s momentum.
The goal that sealed it was a thing of beauty. Devoy intercepted a short pass and lobbed Walsh – who wasn’t even that far off his line – from about 35 yards. It wasn’t quite Beckham against Wimbledon but it was marvellously executed and potentially a significant moment in his side’s season.
Sligo supporters will head back out west concerned by mounting injury issues whilst also reckon with their place at rock bottom of the table, although at least youngsters Conor Walsh and Gareth McElroy showed plenty of promise. A derby against Galway United awaits them back home next week.
Bohs supporters got to enjoy a victorious rendition of ‘the Auld Triangle’ for the first time at Dalymount this season, and whilst it’s just one win, there were some signs of life. Tierney and Devoy are now the old dogs for the hard road, whilst local boy James McManus looks set to match them in importance if he can stay fit. They will need all their key players firing in Drumcondra against Shels next week.