Kelly goal gives Bohs all three points
Friday 6th April 2007, 9:46 pm
John-Paul Kelly celebrates with Stephen Rice.
Photo by Tom Carey.
6th April 2007
eircom League of Ireland Premier Division
Bohemians 1
John-Paul Kelly 43
Sligo Rovers 0
Dalymount Park
John Paul Kelly's goal shortly before half-time proved decisive as Bohemians ran out 1-0 winners against Sligo Rovers in the Premier Division of the eircom League of Ireland at Dalymount Park tonight.
Kelly headed in from Chris Kingsberry's driven 43rd minute cross. Bohs should have grabbed more than one goal with Fergal Harkin and Neale Fenn going particularly close.
Although Sligo never went that close to scoring in the ninety minutes, they did cause the home side problems and Chris Turner drifted a shot past Murphy's goal in the opening five minutes.
Owen Heary tries to hold up the progress of Piotr Bajdziak.
Photo by Tom Carey.
Glen Crowe rattled the Sligo crossbar in the eighth minute with a superb chip off the side of his foot following a lay-off from Neale Fenn on the edge of the box.
It was very even in the early going as both sides traded chances. Kelly saw a deflected shot saved by Richard Brush while Murphy saved from Turner at the other end. Stephen Rice drilled a low shot wide before Fahrudin Kudozovic just missed the Bohs goal with a dipping shot.
Turner forced another save after more good Sligo build-up play.
Fergal Harkin should have put Bohs in front on 38 minutes but after taking Crowe's through ball over Brush, Zoltan Vevas got back to superbly clear off the line.
Neale Fenn up against Sligo's Zoltan Vevas.
Photo by Tom Carey.
The goal did come on 43 minutes as Kingsberry's cross missed out Fenn, allowing Kelly to power a header home.
The goal-scorer didn't have much further involvement in the game as Kevin Hunt replaced him ten minutes of the second period after an injury.
Kingsberry saw Keith Foy block his chance on goal shortly after the break while Jason McGuinness thought he had scored for the second time this week until a point blank save from Brush.
Fergal Harkin flicks the ball over Richard Brush only to be denied by a goal-line clearance.
Photo by Tom Carey.
Choice Aisien was introduced shortly before the hour by the visitors and it looked for a while like Bohs might struggle against the huge Nigerian striker. However, they adjusted quickly and coped.
Fenn should have made it 2-0 before his withdrawal around the hour - when he made way for ex-Sligo player Darren Mansaram. Fenn took the ball past Brush but amazingly couldn't turn the ball home with the goal at his mercy.
Seamus Coleman got back to block for the visitors from Kingsberry in the closing quarter hour. Piotr Bajdziak shot wide for Sligo while Hunt picked up a strange booking as a Sligo player kicked his foot as he cleared.
Kudozovic just looped a header over for Sligo as they struggled to break down the well organized Bohs defence in the dying minutes.
Choice Aisien caused Bohs some worries after his arrival - here up against Dean Pooley.
Photo by Tom Carey.
Bohs will be content with their third win a row while Sligo won't be too dis-heartened following a narrow defeat on a tough away trip.
Bohemians : Murphy, O Heary, McGuinness, Pooley, Byrne, Rice, Kelly (Hunt 55), Kingsberry, Harkin (Rossiter 69), Fenn (Mansaram 64), Crowe.
Sligo Rovers : Brush, Coleman, Foy, McKenzie, Vevas, Hughes, Cretaro, Manson (Aisien 59), Bajdziak, Kudozovic, Turner (McCartney 85).