Fagan gets Bohs back on the move

GOALS in each half from striker Christy Fagan enabled Bohemians to snatch their first win in four league games and clip the wings of previously high-flying Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds last night.

It was a disappointing display by the Seagulls and ended a six-match unbeaten run in competitive games to seriously thwart their hopes of European football next season.

After Fagan had gone close with the game’s first chance, Bray came into it and John Mulroy and Derek Prendergast both forced saves from Bohs keeper Barry Murphy.

The Seagulls again went close to breaking the deadlock on 35 minutes when Chris Shield put Dane Massey clear down the left only for his cross to be glanced wide by Mulroy.

Perhaps against the run of play Bohs took the lead on 36 minutes when following a Killian Brennan corner on the right, Fagan’s header was brilliantly pushed out at close range by keeper Matt Gregg. Fagan was quickest to react and gleefully fired home the rebound into the unguarded net.

Bohemians stretched their lead on 47 minutes when a misdirected back-header by defender Shane O’Connor allowed Fagan to nip in and shoot past Gregg from eight yards.

Bray did have a chance to reduce the lead on 70 minutes when skipper Gary Dempsey supplied an opening for Shane O’Neill, but he could only fire wide of the target.

Dempsey pulled a goal back for the home side on 79 minutes. After collecting a pass from Shane O’Connor on the right he let fly from the edge of the box with the ball taking a slight deflection before entering the net. Then, late on, the inspirational Dempsey and Murphy both fired just wide but Bray could not find that elusive equaliser.

BRAY WANDERERS: Gregg; S O’Connor, Mitchell, Prendergast, Kendrick (McGuinness 72); Mulroy (O’Neill 60), Dempsey, D O’Connor (Doyle 73), Massey; Shields, Murphy.

BOHEMIANS: Murphy; Heary, Burns, Price, O’Brien (Hurley 90); Forrester (Buckley 70), Cronin (Traynor 66), Bayly, Rossiter; Fagan, Brennan.

Referee:D Tomney (Dublin).