Bohemians returned to the summit of the Premier Division, opening up a three-point gap between themselves and Derry City, as they picked up a late win over Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds.
Krystian Nowak struck his first goal for the Phibsboro side on 83 minutes when he headed Ali Coote's corner past Luke McNicholas in the Rovers goal.
The victory means Bohs have now won six of their opening seven games.
In search of their first win in three and without a recognised right full-back in their squad due to injuries, Rovers made one change from their draw at Derry on St Patrick’s Day, manager John Russell relying on Estonian winger Frank Liivak to deputise for the injured Johan Brannefalk.
Bohs arrived at the Showgrounds seeking to regain top spot from last season's runners-up Derry. Manager Declan Devine included former Sligo duo Paddy Kirk and captain Adam McDonnell in his starting team while Canadian Kris Twardek, who spent a season and a half in the north west, was named on the bench.
The Gypsies boss made two changes from their defeat of UCD two weeks ago, full-back Jay Benn and attacker James Clarke taking their place in the XI.
The Dubliners had the better of the four meetings between the sides last season, winning three of these, but it was the hosts who had the better of things in the opening half.
Rovers captain Greg Bolger’s disguised pass from a set piece on six minutes caught out the Bohs rearguard, who had to rely on goalkeeper James Talbot. The stopper reacted in time to smother Bogdan Vastsuk’s placed attempt from close range.
Jonathan Afolabi found himself just short of James Akintunde’s cross to the far post shortly after while Bolger’s cheeky effort from all of 40 yards had the imagination but lacked the accuracy to catch out Talbot, who had strayed from his line.
One of Rovers’ four recent international call ups, Nando Pijnaker, went close to opening the scoring on 23 minutes. Liivak forced the corner from which the ball landed at the foot of New Zealander Pijnaker but his goalward shot was deflected wide by a Bohs defender.
The evasive Fabrice Hartmann, one of the breakout stars of Sligo’s season to date, caused problems for the Bohs defence throughout. Both the German loanee and Estonian international Vastsuk played their part down the Rovers right on 39 minutes, possession eventually falling to Bolger whose volley sailed over Talbot’s goal.
Only a last-ditch tackle from Benn denied Vastsuk early in the second half when the 27-year-old attacker found his way into the Bohs penalty area.
Sligo goalkeeper Luke McNicholas was called into action on 57 minutes to keep out Coote after Benn’s free-kick was recycled back out the ex-Waterford man. The net-minder grabbed Coote’s effort at the second attempt.
McDonnell went close to grabbing a goal against his former employees on 67 but his first-time, arcing effort skimmed the roof of McNicholas’ goal as Devine’s men pushed for an opener.
McNicholas got in front of a rasping Akintunde drive on 73 minutes following a smart one-two with Coote but the Bohs pressure eventually told seven minutes from time when Nowak turned in Coote’s corner.
The goal that looks like it will send Bohs top of the table!#LOI | #SLIBOH pic.twitter.com/rhIGzNDAHF
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) April 1, 2023
Sligo almost levelled the tie in rather unlikely circumstances at the death, but goalkeeper McNicholas could only fire over on the volley after Max Mata had laid a late corner into the path of the Mayo native.
Sligo Rovers: Luke McNicholas; Frank Liivak, John Mahon, Nando Pijnaker, Reece Hutchinson; Greg Bolger, Niall Morahan (Stefan Radosavljevic 79); Will Fitzgerald, Fabrice Hartmann; Bogdan Vastsuk (Kailin Barlow 89); Max Mata.
Bohemians: James Talbot; Jay Benn (Grant Horton 65), Krystian Nowak, Kacper Radkowski, Patrick Kirk; James McManus, Adam McDonnell; Alistair Coote (Declan McDaid 86), James Akintunde; James Clarke (Dylan Connolly 65); Jonathan Afolabi.
Referee: Rob Hennessy
Imagine 🙈#LOI | #SLIBOH pic.twitter.com/l5xi7KjgrO
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) April 1, 2023
In the First Division, Longford Town beat Kerry 2-0 thanks to a brace from Josh Giurgi at Bishopsgate.
The win was the midlanders' second of the season and lifts them up to seventh, while Kerry have one point to date after their first seven games as a League of Ireland entity.
