Melia on target as Saints cruise past limp Bohs in front of Hallgrímsson

SLIDING IN: Mason Melia of St Patrick's Athletic scores his side's second goal during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between St Patrick's Athletic and Bohemians at Richmond Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

St Patrick’s Athletic 3 Bohemians 0 

Goals from Chris Forrester, Mason Melia and Jay McClelland saw St Patrick’s Athletic cruise to victory in this Dublin derby before the biggest crowd at Richmond Park in over 20 years.

A third home win on the bounce saw Stephen Kenny’s side bounce back from their defeat at Shamrock Rovers last week as Bohemians failed to build on their big win in Waterford.

Victory moves Saints, a pre-season title tip, up to second in the table, just a point off leaders Drogheda United, while Bohs slump to eighth.

With senior Republic of Ireland international team manager Heimir Hallgrímsson and under-21 boss Jim Crawford interested spectators, Bohs started positively with midfielder Dawson Devoy warming the hands of Joseph Annag on four minutes.

In perfect still, dry conditions before a sellout crowd of 5,338, the Saints’ keeper had a little more to do a few minutes later. Adam McDonnell won the ball on halfway to give Collie Whelan, their hat-trick hero in Waterford last week, a run on goal. Anang sprung to his left to gather the striker’s rising drive.

Bohs maintained their bright start, with Saints' failure to clear their lines soon presenting another opening, Anang having to tip over McDonell's deflected shot over the top. But the Gypsies’ encouraging opening counted for nothing as they conceded a soft goal on 17 minutes.

Winger Connor Parsons gave away a free kick for a silly foul on Axel Sjoberg near the stand side touchline. Brandon Kavanagh whipped the dead ball right into the middle of the penalty area. And though James Talbot got a punch to the ball, it dropped invitingly for Forrester. The Saints’ talisman took a composed, controlling touch with his left foot before volleying to the corner of the net with his right.

Bohs enjoyed a spell of possession, forcing two corners that came to nothing, before they were almost undone from a swift counterattack on 37 minutes. Jake Mulraney burst clear down the right to find opposite winger Zach Elbouzedi whose low cross Aidan Keena just couldn’t connect with.

There was another let off for Bohs from a Saints' transition two minutes into the second half. Forrester gained possession to send Elbouzedi away on the right. Liam Smith got across well to take the ball off the toe of Mulraney at the near post.

Kenny introduced Melia off the bench for the quiet Keena with the 17-year-old getting an immediate sight of goal on 57 minutes.

The influential Kavanagh picked him out at the far post with an arcing cross, though the downward header lacked the power to trouble Talbot.

With Dayle Rooney and Ross Tierney sprung from the bench, Bohs worked hard to get back into the game. Grehan’s long ball from the back put Whelan in behind to force a save at his left-hand post from Anang.

But the game was up for the visitors on 83 minutes as Saints doubled their lead. Melia began it with a neat lay off to Forrester who put McClelland in behind down the left. Melia raced into the area to get the final touch to the cross.

McClelland added the gloss on 90 minutes, drilling home from Anto Breslin’s cross.

St Patrick’s Athletic: Anang; Sjoberg, Redmond, Grivosti, Breslin; Forrester, Baggley; Elbouzedi, Kavanagh (Turner, 78), Mulraney (McClelland, 66); Keena (Melia, 54).

Bohemians: Talbot; Smith, Morahan, Grehan, Flores (Mousset, 71); Buckley (Tierney, 56), McDonnell (Mountney, 71); Clarke (Rooney, 56), Devoy, Parsons (Meekison, 67); Whelan.

Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin).

Attendance: 5,338.