Vaughan rescues point for Bohs as Shels denied late
Harry Vaughan scored a late equaliser for Bohemians against Shelbourne. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Hull City had a major influence on the outcome of this drawn Dublin derby, primarily through Tigers loanee Harry Vaughan pinching a late equaliser for Bohemians.
Shelbourne’s ex-Hull apprentices Will Jarvis and Harry Wood had combined after coming on to make it 2-1 with 18 minutes left but another sub, Vaughan, had the final intervention by firing home with a minute remaining.
Although it extends the winless run of Bohs to nine games, they sit third in the table – six off second placed St Patrick’s Athletic - as their return to European competition for the first time since 2021 beckons.
“Am I happy? No,” said Bohs boss Alan Reynolds afterwards.
“I don't think we should be drawing as many games as we have.
“When you go 2-1 behind, giving away a silly goal like that, you're going ‘right, you take the point’. But based on the performance, it would have been a travesty not to get something.
“If we just do that a little bit extra, we'll win more games. You've got to get that belief into them to go. We're not coming up against anyone that's really dominated but we can be better in certain areas.”
Joey O’Brien’s Reds had also entered the Bank Holiday weekend in wretched form, losing four in a row, but Friday’s victory at Dundalk was followed by a point at Dalymount which they’ll feel overall relieved at taking.
Adam McDonnell’s 10th minute opener lifted early tension among the home support but that lead lasted for only six minutes as John Martin from Ali Coote’s inswinging free-kick was left unmarked to head in the leveller.
O’Brien’s decision to leave quality imports Jack Henry-Francis, Jarvis and Wood on the bench seemed risky but they all contributed to the comeback after being sprung into action.
From a dribbling run into the box, Jarvis found Wood who was afforded too much time to shimmy into space to prime a shot.
That effort squeezed through the legs of defender Patrick Hickey past goalkeeper Kacper Chorazka but Sam Todd, in attempting a goal-line clearance, could only manage to score an own goal.
Another enterprising run from Wood teed up Sean Gannon to convert but the veteran defender, on his 499th career league appearance, was denied by a block.
Pressure was building from the stands towards Reynolds but the Bohs boss was brave in pairing teenager Josh Harpur with fellow sub Douglas James-Taylor for the final fling at salvaging a point.
Harpur stabbed a volley wide with nine minutes left before the goal finally arrived.
James-Taylor was central to proceedings, shielding the ball in the box and freeing Vaughan on the left side. He took one touch before drilling a low shot inside the near post.
“We gave away a really poor first goal by defending badly and the goalkeeper should save it,” reflected O’Brien afterwards.
“Overall, we were disappointed not to get the third because at 2-1 we had two good chances on the break.
“There weren't many chances in the match so you’ve got to take them.
"These games are usually settled by moments and we let those moments slip by.”
The former Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United defender was still pleased to rectify their recent slump.
After improving on the road, returning Tolka Park to the fortress of recent seasons is the priority.
“We had a big emphasis on this Friday/Monday weekend with two away games so if we’d been offered four points out of six we’d have taken it,” added O’Brien.
“I said to the lads to use that bit of disappointment to be ready on Friday against Sligo Rovers, by going out there and putting our home record right.”
K Chorążka; P Hickey, S Todd, S Mullen (L Kavanagh 46); N Morahan (J Harpur 79), D Devoy, A McDonnell (D Power 72), D Rooney; M Strods (H Vaughan 46), R Tierney; C Whelan (D James-Taylor 65).
W Speel; S Bone, P Barrett, K Ledwidge; S Gannon, A Coote (J Henry-Francis 68), JJ Lunney, K McInroy (E Chapman 90), E Caffrey (W Jarvis 68); R Frietas (H Wood 56), J Martin (S Boyd 90).
Neil Doyle (Dublin).
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