Clinical Bohs enter endgame

Bohemians 2 Bray Wanderers 1

An evening which might have ended with the glittering prize had begun less than brightly for the title contenders, with Neale Fenn limping off after just five minutes — although being able to call on Jason Byrne as a replacement would have to be considered no great hardship for any team.

Still, the home side struggled to settle in the early stages and almost went behind to a self-inflicted blow in the 10th minute when Brian Murphy’s attempted clearance rebounded off Ger Rowe. A race back to the line between ‘keeper and striker ensued, with Murphy getting there just in time to scoop the ball to safety and spare his own blushes.

But, on 18 minutes, Bohs put their jitters behind them, with Murphy suddenly cast in the role of playmaker as, from his long kick-out, Glen Crowe was able to take advantage of uncertain defending by Ray Kenny and, with a deft touch, send the ball rolling wide of the advancing Alan Gough and inside the far post.

Nerves settled, Bohs almost repeated the dose just a few minutes later, with Jason Byrne this time the striker supplying the direct threat on goal. But after Mindaugas Kalonas had picked the sub out with another simple ball over the top, on this occasion Gough got out quickly to avert the danger.

After that, only some last-ditch blocks and another fine save from Gough prevented Byrne from opening his account, as the impressive Kalonas wreaked havoc on the right and Bohs continued to pile on the pressure. And it was no surprise that Bray finally cracked again just before the break when, from Byrne’s corner, Jason McGuinness was given the freedom of the box to powerfully head Bohs’ second goal.

Eddie Gormley would hardly have been satisfied with his team’s defending but, threatening with virtually every attack at this stage, Bohs were well worthy of their half-time lead.

Soon after the restart, the news that St Pats had gone one up in Ballybofey dampened the premature celebrations at Dalymount, and the fan’s chants of “We are invincible” suddenly stuck in their throats when, right on the hour mark, Bray skipper Ray Kenny poached a goal from close range after a scramble in the home box.

That gave the visitors a confidence boost and, for the first time since the game’s opening phase, Bohs found themselves on the back foot. With 15 minutes remaining, Ray Kenny almost doubled his and Bray’s tally, heading narrowly wide from an Alan Cawley corner, but any lingering hope the Sseasiders had of salvaging a draw evaporated when, after handling the ball, Daryl Robson was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

With confirmation arriving from Finn Park that Pats had beaten Harps 1-0, it all added to a mild sense of anti-climax in Phibsborough at the end of a night which had promised so much. But with Bohs still very much the champions in waiting, they next travel to Drogheda knowing that matters next Friday will be entirely in their own hands.

BOHEMIANS: Murphy, Heary, McGuinness, Burns, Rossiter, Kalonas, O’Donnell, Deegan (Cronin 77), Brennan (Murphy 81), Fenn (Byrne 5), Crowe.

BRAY WANDERERS: Gough, Whelan, Doherty, Kenny, Cronin (Knight 45), Kavanagh (Myler 74), Cawley, Robson, Duggan, Kelly, Rowe.

Referee: Hugo Whoriskey.