Bohemian FC get set to welcome Sligo Rovers to Dalymount Park for the first time on Saturday evening, 6pm, as the Women’s National League returns after a mid-season break.
The Dublin club will be eager to build on the form that saw them draw with Galway, beat Peamount and draw with DLR Waves while Sligo Rovers will be determined to put a five-goal reversal last-time-out against Peamount behind them.
Sligo Rovers manager Steve Feeney summed up the impact of conceding five goals without reply to a resurgent Peamount Utd side when he suggested that the players were disappointed not to have taken something from the game.
“We have improved to a certain standard and we now have to push on again, we have to come back stronger after the break,” commented Feeney in the aftermath of the reversal.
“If someone had told us that we would be in this position after 14 games into our inaugural season, playing Peamount at home and going out with the expectation of getting a result, it just demonstrates how much progress the team has made.
“The mid-season break is welcome, we can get everyone refreshed again and ready to go to Dalymount for the next game against Bohemians,” he added.
Two goals from Sinead Taylor and one from Chloe Darby gave Bohemian FC the points in a 3-1 victory at the Showgrounds last March and the formbook suggests that on home turf, the Dublin women will be a difficult proposition.
The immediate goal for Bohemian FC manager Sean Byrne and his players is to take another three points as they currently sit in eighth position two points adrift of Sligo Rovers.
Of concern for the Bohs boss will be the fact that they failed to score against DLR Waves in a game of few chances.
However, the loss of striker and captain, Sinead Taylor after just 20 minutes was a major setback and manager Byrne will be looking for a more fluent performance this time around.
The Sligo Rovers players have demonstrated an ability to bounce back and they will be determined to hold on to seventh place and build on what has been an impressive first-half of the season for the newest team in the WNL.
LAST TIME
Sligo Rovers 1, Bohemian FC 3
TEAMS
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.