SLIGO ROVERS’ title bid looks in real trouble after a 2-1 defeat to Bohemians in a controversial clash at the Showgrounds.

Two goals in the last 15 minutes saw Bohemians come from behind to take all three points and left Rovers languishing in third spot in the Premier Division, three points behind Derry City and Shamrock Rovers.

Gavin Peers headed Rovers into a deserved lead after just 11 minutes, when he rose unmarked in the area to flick Joseph Ndo’s corner to the net.

The Bit O’ Red dominated the remainder of the half but failed to create any real clearcut chances, although Raf Cretaro and Alan Kirby did force saves off Barry Murphy before the break.

Bohs were much improved after the restart and Aidan Downes almost set-up Ger O’Brien for an equaliser, before Downes himself almost punished the home side on a swift counter-attack from within his own half, but dragged his shot across the face of goal.

But the game changed decisively on 74 minutes when referee Alan Kelly adjudged that Matthew Blinkhorn was holding Owen Heary in the area from a Bohs corner and pointed to the spot.

Killian Brennan smashed home the spot-kick and Downes then won it for the visitors when he broke clear on another counter-attack from a Rovers corner, and slid the ball to the net from a tight angle after rounding Clarke.

SLIGO ROVERS: Clarke, Russell, Peers, McGuinness, Powell, Cretaro (Blinkhorn 55), Ryan, Kirby (Dillon 76), Ndo, Davoren (Greene 68), Doyle.

BOHEMIANS: Murphy, Heary, Burns, Price, Cahill, Forrester (Rossiter 63), Buckley (Flood 83), Cronin, O’Brien, Brennan, Downes.

REFEREE: A Kelly (Cork).