Last-gasp Clarke equaliser ensures Bohs grab point against Sligo

Bohemians' James Clarke celebrates his goal. Pic: Dan Clohessy/Inpho

Premier Division: Bohemians 1 Sligo Rovers 1 

James Clarke scored a last-gasp equaliser as Bohemians drew a game they should really have won but might have lost.

Trailing to Owen Elding’s sublime first half strike, Bohemians huffed and puffed for the whole second half, finally finding a way past an inspired Sam Sargeant between the Sligo posts in the fifth minute of added time.

Dayle Rooney floated over Bohs’ 10th corner of the game with Clarke arriving to head to the net, adding to his goal against Shamrock Rovers on Monday.

Remarkably, Bohs might then have won it with the last kick of the game in the 100th minute when skipper Dawson Devoy shaved the crossbar from the edge of the area.

Bohemians slip to third place on goal difference behind Derry City while it’s as you were at the bottom, Sligo four points ahead of Cork City.

Brim full of confidence following Monday’s big win, Bohemians began brightly, if not creating the game's first real chance until 15 minutes.

Ross Tierney galloped in behind onto Collie Whelan’s flick only to blaze high and wide with only Sargeant to beat.

Devoy then found Whelan in space, but he too drilled wide when he should have hit the target before Adam McDonnell brought a fine save from Sargeant as the game somehow remained scoreless.

That changed on 28 minutes when the home crowd were stunned into silent admiration as Sligo took the lead against the run of play with a cracking goal.

It was worked from the back by Reece Hutchinson and Daire Patton, on his full debut, with Elding picking the ball up on the halfway line.

The 19-year-old skipped confidently forward unchallenged before putting the laces of his left boot through the ball to find the roof of Chorazka’s net from some 30 yards.

The brilliant strike mirrored one Elding scored against Shelbourne last month as he registered his eighth goal of the campaign.

A terrific save by Sargeant 10 minutes later from John Mountney ensured Sligo took their lead into the break.

Bohemians certainly had more energy from the resumption as they chased the game with Devoy and Dayle Rooney trying their luck from distance early on.

Sargeant’s save hands denied Devoy while Rooney put a free kick over the top before Bohs thought they had levelled on 81 minutes.

Rhys Brennan chipped a ball in from the left which was met by fellow sub Smith whose downward header came back off a post.

Sargeant saved again from Brennan before home frustration was finally eased with Clarke’s late leveller.

Bohemians: Chorazka; Morahan (Strods, 85), Cornwall (Kavanagh, 90+1), Flores, Mountney (Smith, h-t); Devoy; Rooney, McDonnell (Buckley, h-t), Clarke, Tierney; Whelan (Brennan, 60).

Sligo Rovers: Sargeant; McDonagh, Denham (Wolfe, 61), Reynolds (Mallon, 86), Hutchison; Patton (van Hattum, 86), Doyle-Hayes; Elding, Hakiki, Fitzgerald; Waweru (Lomboto, 68).

Referee: Declan Toland (Athlone).

Attendance: 4,103.