A disappointing afternoon in the Women’s National League Saturday at the Showgrounds saw Bohemian FC take the three points with a merited 3-1 victory as Emma Hansbury found the net for the hosts with a superb free in the 94th minute.
Manager Steve Feeney made two changes to the starting line up from the team that won against Cork with Emma Doherty and Paula McGrory starting after featuring as substitutes in the win against last weekend.
Emma Hansberry went close for the hosts in the eighth minute from a free which Rachael Kelly saved as the hosts made a very tentative opening and were a goal down to a Chloe Darby effort in the 11th minute following some hesitant defending.
A free from Kristen Sample soon after ended up in the Bohemian FC net, but it didn’t stand as it was an indirect free that had been awarded for an offside offence.
The game remained scrappy with Bohemian FC creating the better chances, but the Bit O’Red went close again when a Hansberry free from the edge of the penalty area skimmed the top of the crossbar.
All the Bohs pressure was rewarded again in the 35th minute when Sinead Taylor created a difficult chance, but she showed all her skill and was able to turn and finish for a two-goal advantage.
The hosts resumed smartly after the break, but were on the backfoot fairly quickly as Bohs settled into a rhythm with Erica Burke flashing a shot past the far post in the 52nd minute.
The Dublin side almost added a third goal in the 70th minute, but a relieved Sligo Rovers rearguard cleared the danger.
The best the hosts could manage was a shot from Aoife Brennan who ran on to a long clearance from Sample.
Bohemian FC added a third goal when team captain Taylor claimed her second of the afternoon when she finished from a corner in the 90th minute before Hansberry gave the home supporters something to cheer about with that late goal.
Sligo Rovers – Kristen Sample; Leah Kelly, Emma Hansberry, Orna O’Dowd, Amy Hyndman, Gemma McGuinness, Lauren Boles, Emma Doherty, Amy Roddy, Fiona Doherty, Paula McGrory. Subs – Ruth Monaghan for O’Dowd,
Aoife Brennan for McGrory both half-time, Kerri O’Hara for Hyndman, Katie Melly for F Doherty both 68 mins, Helen Monaghan for Kelly 74m,
Bohemian FC – Rachael Kelly; Abbie Brophy, Katie Burdis, Lisa Murphy, Ciara Maher, Katie Lovely, Chloe Darby, Erica Burke, Kira Bates-Crosbie, Fiona Ryan, Sinead Taylor. Subs – Isobel Finnegan for Burdis and Ann Marie Byrne for Ryan both 60 mins, Bronagh Kae for Bates-Crosbie 83m.
Referee – Declan Toland.
Assistant-referees – Darren Corcoran, Keenan Deering.
Fourth official – Michael Connolly.