Bohemians 0 Sligo Rovers 0:CHAMPIONS Bohemians dropped their first points of the 2010 campaign after being held to a scoreless draw by a dogged 10-man Sligo Rovers at Dalymount Park. Both sides had chances to win an enthralling game last night but neither could find that elusive goal.

Sligo were forced to play the last half hour with 10 men after Gavin Peers was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Bohemians received a boost before kick-off with the news their former star Joseph Ndo would not be in Sligo’s squad. The one-time Cameroon international joined the westerners earlier in the week but his clearance didn’t come through in time to allow him play.

Sligo made the better start and gave the home side a scare in the first minute.

Pádraig Amond had the ball in the net but the goal was ruled out by referee Alan Kelly because the ball had clearly bounced up and touched Amond’s hand before he fired home.

Bohemians were slow to get out of the starting blocks but slowly but surely found their rhythm.

Paul Keegan sent in a dangerous-looking free-kick on 14 minutes but Rovers goalkeeper Richard Brush was well-placed to turn the ball out for a corner.

Then Bohemians striker Paddy Madden took possession in the centre and made an excellent darting run toward goal but his subsequent shot was poor as he blasted wide of Brush’s right hand post.

Bohemians kept Brush busy and he used his body well on the half-hour to block a close range shot from Jason Byrne who was set up with a fine through ball by Keegan.

At the other end, Amond headed over the top after a John Dillon corner on 35 minutes while Brush made another good point-blank save from Byrne on the stroke of half-time.

The end-to-end action continued in the second period with one of the best chances falling to Sligo on 54 minutes when Dillon, deep on the right, sent an angled shot goalward, forcing Bohemians goalkeeper Chris O’Connor into making a fine save.

Rovers’ task was then made harder when they were reduced to 10 men on the hour. Already on a yellow card from the first half, Peers was shown a second and sent off when he tugged on Byrne just outside the area as the striker raced into the danger area.

Byrne was then involved at the business end of a cracking move on 72 minutes involving several Bohemians players, but when the ball came to him inside the area Brush rushed off his line and bravely saved at the striker’s feet.

BOHEMIANS: O’Connor; Heary, Powell, Cronin (Higgins 76 mins), Shelley; Oman, McGlynn, Keegan, Rossiter (Quigley 76 mins); Madden (Cretaro 81 mins), Byrne.

SLIGO ROVERS: Brush; Ventre, Davoren, Peers, Keane; O’Grady, Dillon (McCabe 74 mins), Ryan, Blinkhorn; Amond (Almeida 62 mins), Doyle.

Referee: A Kelly (Cork).