Bohemians 3-2 Bray Wanderers

There were goals galore in a chilly Dalymount Park on Friday night, as Bohemians won by the odd goal in five in this thrilling encounter with Bray Wanderers to give them their first win in four games.

Neither side have been firing on all cylinders of late, but both had spells of dominance in this open game as each attacked the game creating lots of chances.

The home side started the brighter and took the lead on twelve minutes. 

Bray Wanderers thought they had cleared a corner, but Ryan McEvoy picked the ball up in the centre of the park and with quick feet and an incisive through ball played Andy Mulligan in on goal. One on one with the keeper, Mulligan looked to shoot, but with great awareness squared the ball to Chris Lyons who had a much simpler task of scoring into an empty net.

Bohemians and Lyons nearly had their second goal moments after the restart. A long ball from Luke Byrne at the back released the former UCD striker, and after cutting inside on his right foot he saw his shot come back off Quigley’s trailing leg and clear.

In what was an end to end period of play, Bray Wanderers kept pace with Callaghan’s men. A Jason Byrne volley that went just over was a warning that Bohemian’s didn’t heed and the away side drew level on 24 minutes in truly unusual fashion.

The effervescent Kieran “Marty” Waters picked the pall up on the right hand side but after cutting inside to the edge of the area was knocked off the ball and to the ground. As Waters lay on the ground protesting for a free kick, Gary Dempsey collected the ball and let fly from more than 25 yards with a low shot.

Bohemians goalkeeper Dean Delany was well positioned in the centre of his goal and looked like making a comfortable save, when a bizarre deflection off Waters (as he lay on the ground) saw the ball loop up and over the keeper, hit the crossbar, and go over the line despite Delany’s efforts.

The visiting team took the momentum and were now on top. Waters nearly put his side ahead on 37 minutes when he hit the post, but despite all the Bray Wanderers pressure, the teams went in level at the break.

Whatever Aaron Callaghan said to his men at half time seemed to work, as the Gypsies came out re-invigorated in the second half and regained control of the match.

Just after the hour mark, Bohemians enjoyed a sustained period pressure with passing that belied their league position. 

First Dave Scully slid in to connect with a Luke Byrne cross (after good work from Lyons), before Andy Mulligan saw his shot parried on 63 minutes only for Lyons to see his goal bound effort cleared off the line by Paul Malone.

The somewhat inevitable Bohemians goal came a minute later, and it was that man again Chris Lyons who was to score it. Ryan McEvoy was pulling the strings in midfield at this stage, and his ball over the top set Lyons racing into the box. Quigley was off his line like a shot to narrow the angle, but Lyons saw his sublime looping effort creep under the bar to give his side the lead.

The Bohemians fans were only just retaking their seats when they were on their feet again. A deep free kick was floated into the Bray Wanderers box where Mulcahy, a pre-match doubt because of illness, guided the ball passed Quigley’s right hand into the goal.

Derek Pender was having a fine game for Bohemians appearing to sit in front of a back three, but he was withdrawn on 72 minutes as a precaution. A minute later, Bray Wanderers broke down the left through Kevin Knight. The Seagulls man cut the ball back from the byline and found John Mulroy who scored with a smart finish passed Delaney.

The last fifteen minutes was end to end stuff again, with neither side creating clear cut chances

Ultimately it was Callaghan’s men who held on for a valuable three points and their third win of the season. Bray Wanderers on the other hand were left to rue the missed opportunities they had in the first half, but will no doubt take heart from their performance ahead of the visit of Cork City on Monday.

Bohemians: Dean Delaney; Roberto Lopes, Dave Mulcahy, Luke Byrne; Derek Pender (Michael Barker 72); Shane Fitzgerald (Karl Moore 75), Keith Buckley, Ryan McEvoy, Andy Mulligan (Keith Devaney 83); Chris Lyons, Dave Scully.
Subs not used: Shane Murray, Dwayne Wilson, Michael Scott, Greg Murray (gk).

Booked: Lyons (70).

Bray Wanderers: Darren Quigley; David Webster, Paul Malone, Danny O’Connor, Conor Earley (Ismahil Akinade 76); Kieran “Marty” Waters, Gary Dempsey (Shane O’Neill 87), Dean Zambra, Kevin Knight; Jason Byrne, John Mulroy.
Subs not used: Daire Doyle, Eoin Hyland, Shane O’Connor, Danny Joyce, Stephen McGuinness (gk).

Booked: None.

Referee: Seán Grant.

Attendance: 1,006

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Andy Mulligan (Bohemians).