Bohemians battle back to outclass Bray

BOHEMIANS shook off a winter of financial discontent with a spring in their step to easily outplay Bray Wanderers in their opening Airtricity Premier Division game of the season at the Carlisle Grounds.

Skipper Owen Heary, outstanding in the centre of defence, was just one of three regular first team members from last season. But newcomers Lee Dixon, Christy Fagan and Stephen Traynor showed that Pat Fenlon’s new-look side will have much to offer in the coming season.

The Dubliners had all the early chances when first a header forward by Heary set up former Manchester United trainee Fagan only to see his effort brilliantly blocked by the knees of Bray ‘keeper Matt Gregg.

Only the brilliance of 19-year-old Bohemians ‘keeper Craig Sexton prevented the Seagulls taking the lead on 17 minutes when a Joe Kendrick corner allowed Danny O’Connor to get in a powerful header superbly pushed out at close range by the keeper.

But there was to be no denying Bray, who grabbed the lead on 20 minutes when Ger O’Brien handled the ball in the box after another Kendrick corner and Jake Kelly made no mistake with the resultant penalty.

Bohemians were level on 31 minutes when Lee Dixon was taken down inside the box by defender Daire Doyle, after a neat interchange of passes with Fagan. The latter sent keeper Gregg the wrong way with his perfectly-placed spot kick.

The Dalymount Park club then got their noses in front on 38 minutes when Kendrick fouled the outstanding Dixon just outside the box. The resulting free by Killian Brennan was brilliantly dispatched from 20 yards into the roof of the net for a deserved lead.

The Dublin club stretched their lead on 65 minutes when striker Anto Flood fired home from 12 yards, after a neat passing movement between Fagan and Traynor.

The Seagulls did have a chance of reducing the deficit on 69 minutes after defender Ger O’Brien took down substitute John Mulroy. This time Kelly’s penalty struck the crossbar and rebounded to safety. Bohemians were happy to play out time for a comfortable three points.

BRAY WANDERERS: Gregg; Doyle (Webster 45), Mitchell, Kendrick, Massey; G.Kelly, Dempsey, O’Connor (Mulroy 66), J.Kelly; Shields, O’Neill (McGuinness 72).

BOHEMIANS: Sexton; Rossiter (Lopez 82), Heary, Price, Cahill; Brennan, Traynor, O’Brien (Somers 79), Dixon; Flood, Fagan.

Referee: Tom Connolly (Dublin).