League Report: Bohemians 2 - 2 Sligo Rovers

Joshua Lindsay reports from Dalymount Park

A dramatic late equaliser from James Clarke closed out a heart-wrenching clash in the Premier Division, between Bohemians and Sligo Rovers.

Bohemians Vs Sligo Rovers finished 2-2 at Dalymount Park through goals from Bohs newcomer Sten Reinkort, Rovers' Reece Hutchinson and Fabrice Hartmann, and the Dublin side's late saviour, James Clarke.

There was a sense of optimism in the air at Dalymount Park on Friday evening’s Premier Division Clash between Bohemians and Sligo Rovers.

The first chance of the game came to Bohs 3 minutes in. Dayle Rooney whipped an in-swinging ball into the box from a free kick which met the head of Jordan Flores, but just sailed wide of the mark.

Bohs took the lead moments after through their new target man Sten Reinkort.

A glimpse of what he can bring to Bohs, as he controlled the ball with his chest after a ball from James Clarke, and set the ball back to Bohs' creative midfielder, spun off his man in behind and received the ball again in the box, in which he calmly slotted home the opener.

Sligo Rovers' first opportunity came through Simon Power. Ellis Chapman picked the ball up in the centre of the field and with an outside of the foot pass, he found Power, who tried to speed past the Bohs defender but was tackled just inside the box to send it out for a corner.

Adam McDonnell came close with his long-range effort 19 minutes in. Reinkort was holding up the ball down the right wing when he came back inside and played McDonnell who was in the centre of the field. He immediately took a positive touch towards goal and let a blistering strike loose, which just cruised past the post.

24 minutes into play, Bit O’Red equalised through Power's positive play down the left flank coming into the box, a ricochet off Jordan Flores then put the ball in Reece Hutchinson’s path who ended up bundling the ball into the net, after a rebound off Kacper Chorazka.

Power tried to put Rovers in front five minutes later when link-up play between himself and Max Mata carved out a shooting opportunity on the edge of the box. The shot was tame from Power and was collected by Chorazka.

In the build-up of Power’s shot on goal, Robert Cornwall went down injured, forcing Bohs into an early substitution. Declan Devine brought on Michael Lilander in Cornwall’s place. A worrying start to life at Bohs for the veteran.

Magic from Fabrice Hartmann, who put Rovers ahead just before the break. A corner for the visitors ended up at the feet of Hartmann who danced between four of Declan Devine’s men before striking it home from six yards.

Power’s flair caused panic for the home side just after the break when he picked up the ball down the right flank and put in a rabona cross into a dangerous area in the Bohs box. The cross was cleared, but a lively start to the second half for the visitors.

Clarke caused trouble for Rovers 54 minutes in when he made a bursting run towards goal after a quick turn and dash in the centre of the field. He was brought down on the edge of the box, which led the referee to issue a free kick to Bohs.

The resulting free kick was struck low and hard by Rooney but was met with a save from Edward McGinty.

The Mono stand was sent into uproar by the visitors, after Power was brought down in the Dublin side’s box by Michael Lilander. The referee deemed it no foul and continued play.

John Russell’s men started to control the game 70 minutes in, as they looked to close out what would be a great opening day result.

Martin Miller’s first few touches for the Dublin side looked very promising as he got on the ball a lot and started to instil a positive tempo in the Gypsies.

79 minutes in, he found Dylan Connolly with a cross into the box, in which Connolly headed the ball off the post.

Bohs showed no signs of giving up with ten minutes to play as Clarke had a chance for the home side to equalise, a volley outside the box which was fired wide of the target.

The home side equalised in the additional 7 minutes of play through Clarke, Miller played Connolly down the right flank who floated a ball into the visitors’ box, which Clarke met with a leaping header, which beat McGinty to send Dalymount into chaos.

Bohemians: KacperChorazka, Bartlomiej Kukulowicz (Brian McManus, 45), Patrick Kirk, Robert Cornwall (Michael Lilander, 30), Cian Byrne, Jordan Flores (C), Adam McDonnell, James Clarke, Dayle Rooney (Martin Miller), Daniel Grant (Dylan Connolly), Sten Reinkort (Nickson Okuson). 

Subs not used:Luke Dennison, Declan McDaid, Sean Moore, James Akintunde 

Booked: Martin Miller (79), Brian McManus (90), Nickson Okosun (90).

Sligo Rovers: Edward McGinty, John Ross Wilson, Reece Hutchinson, Oliver Denham, Nando Pijnaker, Niall Morahan (C), Simon Power, Ellis Chapman (Kailin Barlow, 81), Conor Malley, Fabrice Hartmann (William Fitzgerald, 63), Max Mata. 

Subs not used:Richard Brush, Charlie Wigget, Wilson Waweru, Kyle McDonagh, Conor Reynolds, Owen Elding, Daire Patton 

Booked: Nando Zen Pijnaker (53), John Ross Wilson (61), Simon Power (73), Connor Malley (86). 

Extratime Man of The Match: James Clarke 

Attendance: 4,432 

Referee: Robert Harvey