League Report: Bohemians 5 - 1 St Patrick's Athletic

Bohemians recorded their first league victory in eight games thanks to a comfortable 5-1 victory against St Patrick’s Athletic at Dalymount Park on Sunday afternoon.

A brace from Jake Kelly along with goals from Roberto Lopes, Ismahil Akinade and a second half Kurtis Byrne penalty, ensured that the Bohs faithful were singing at the full-time whistle.

After ending their seven game goal drought at home against Galway United last Friday, Keith Long’s side picked up where they left off against the Tribesmen and opened the scoring in the third minute when Lopes fired home from close range after Kurtis Byrne found the central midfielder free four yards out with a lovely low delivery and he made no mistake firing into an empty net.

Less than 60 seconds later, Bohs doubled their lead when Akinade was allowed to race through on goal from the halfway line before the forward fired low past the onrushing Brendan Clarke for his first league goal of the season.

If the Gypsies supporters thought their dream start couldn’t have gotten any better, it did in the 13th minute when Kelly was released by a defence splitting ball from Dan Byrne before he fired past Clarke from the edge of the box.

Despite being 3-0 down, the Saints had several great chances of their own. First a Billy Dennehy dangerous free-kick found Christy Fagan, but the forward who was playing his first game in five weeks could only volley wide from close range.

Less than two minutes later, Fagan had another great chance after a cross from Mark Timlin found the forward, but this time his headed effort sailed over from six yards. Fagan was again involved as the Saints continued to press forward, this time his low shot from 20 yards forced a good save from Dean Delaney.

After weathering the storm from the Saints, Keith Long’s side added a fourth goal in the 31st minute when Keith Buckley found Akinade with a cross before his headed effort was bundled over the line by Kelly with the assistance of Lee Desmond.

When play resumed for the second period, Keith Long’s side continued where they left off in the first-half and Akinade had a chance for the hosts after 15 seconds when he was gifted possession deep inside the Saints half, but his effort from 25 yards failed to trouble Clarke in the visiting goal.

With second-half chances in the opening 20 minutes being limited, Akinade had another chance to extend his side’s lead when Dylan Hayes found the forward in the penalty area, but his headed effort came off the shoulder of Desmond before the chance was squandered.

Less than a minute later, the host had a huge call for a penalty waved away when Sean Hoare appeared to push Akinade inside the penalty area, but referee Graham Kelly said play on.

The Saints pulled a goal back with 11 minutes remaining when Sam Verdon found Ian Bermingham free from a corner and despite the best efforts of Dean Delaney the shot-stopper failed to prevent the ball from crossing the goal line.

Three minutes later the Gypsies hit back when Akinade was brought down in the box by Hoare and Kurtis Byrne made no mistake from the spot-kick blasting the ball into the top corner.

Deep in injury-time, Bohs had two great chances to extend their lead first Lopes failed to trouble Clarke when one-on-one with the keeper before moments later, Lorcan Fitzgerald’s headed effort sailed over from close range.

The victory for Keith Long’s side move them up to eighth place in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division and they will face Wexford Youths at Ferrycarrig Park while Liam Buckley’s men will be hoping they can return to winning ways against Shamrock Rovers at Richmond Park on Friday evening.

Bohemians FC: Dean Delaney; Derek Pender (Stephen Best 85), Dan Byrne, Dave Mulcahy, Dylan Hayes; Eoin Wearen (James Kavanagh 58), Keith Buckley, Roberto Lopes, Jake Kelly (Lorcan Fitzgerald 79); Kurtis Byrne, Ismahil Akinade.

Subs Not Used: Lee Stacey, Derek Prendergast, Paul Rooney, Jason Caffrey. 

Booked:  James Kavanagh (73).

St Patrick’s Athletic: Brendan Clarke; Ger O’Brien, Sean Hoare, Lee Desmond, Ian Birmingham; Mark Timlin (Keith Tracey 79), Graham Kelly, Sam Verdon, Jamie McGrath, Billy Dennehy (Rory Feely HT); Christy Fagan (Dinny Corcoran 85).

Subs Not Used: Pat Jennings, Michael Barker, David Cawley, Dylan McGlade.

Booked: None.

Red Card: Sean Hoare (82).

Referee: Graham Kelly.

Attendance: 1,515

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Ismahile Akinade (Bohemians FC)