EA Sports Cup Report: Bohemians 1 - 0 Cabinteely
A solitary strike from Steven Nolan secured a slender 1-0 win for Bohemians in their EA Sports Cup First Round tie against Cabinteely in Dalymount Park on Tuesday evening.
Bohs enjoyed the lion's share of possession in the first half, but a fourth minute solo effort from Dean Casey remained their best chance of the game as the sides went in at the break.
Keith Long's men were able to get off to the perfect second half start, with Nolan heading home just two minutes into the half.
A late push from Cabo saw the home side hanging on in the dying embers but on the whole the Gypsies came away with a deserved victory.
Bohs made ten changes from the side that lost to St Patrick's Athletic 4-0 on Friday and some players, notably including Casey and Fuad Sule, did more than enough to warrant a starting spot on Friday against Sligo Rovers.
An early free kick challenged Cabo before Casey ran at the opposition who could do little to stop him, just pulling his effort to the right of the far post, denying himself a brilliant solo goal.
Domination of possession in the first 15 minutes brought little success for Bohs in front of goal, and it was though set pieces, provided by Casey, that they were able to threaten the most.
For all of Casey's good work on the left wing, however, much of his balls were easily dealt with by Cabo's defenders, with Sean Fitzpatrick in particular putting on a clearance heading masterclass.
Another chance went begging in the 23rd minute as a Casey free kick from the right rebounded off he shins of Nolan, who moved for the kick but expected it higher in the air, and fumbled the ball out for a goal kick as frustration began to grow within the Bohs faithful.
A fantastic moment occurred when Bohs 'keeper Greg Murray managed to embarrass Steven Ball with the deftest of flicks before proceeding to undo all his good work by falling over while clearing the ball immediately after.
Rob Cornwall managed a shot from distance that finally warmed the hands of Jack Menton in the Cabinteely goal, before Sule went close with a decent solo effort and Casey frustratingly had two great corners not finished off.
The breakthrough finally came in the 47th minute when, after holding 100% of the ball in the second half, an Eoghan Morgan chip left Nolan unmarked and with the easiest of headers into the net.
Bohs pushed heavily for a second goal, relying on Sule's brilliant play in the middle of the park. Sule played the defensive midfielder role perfect on the header, cutting out any sniff of a Cabo counter for most of the game, covering every blade of grass, and possessing the ability to start attacks too.
In the 59th minute Bohs were awarded a penalty after a late tackle by Jack Hudson on Philip Gannon. Gannon was unable to convert though as Menton made a superb save, clawing the ball out of the top corner.
The Cabinteely net continued to elude Bohs despite their best efforts. Rob Cornwall had a golden chance wasted as he missed a connecting volley open at the back post, a last ditch tackle from Fitzpatrick stopped a rampaging Brandon Perry before he could finish, and Morgan blasted over from 25 yards.
A failed clearance from a Nolan effort fell to Sule,whose hard shot smashed the crossbar before Perry was denied the rebound also.
The most glaring missed opportunity came in the 78th minute when a low cross from Sule was met by Jamie Hamilton with an open goal, but he somehow managed to hit the left upright and out when it looked a certain goal.
Cabinteely improved in the last 15 minutes of the game as Bohs wound down and did threaten in added time, but a brave stop by Murray, diving at the feet of a full-pelt Adam Harney, and a rasper from Jason Byrne collected by the Bohs goalie the only true moments of worry.
As the final whistle went in Dalymount on the night Bohs can take away, and be proud of, ultimately a good performance where they should have won by more, and a few selection headaches for Long ahead of the game with the Bit O' Red in The Showgrounds.
Bohemians: Greg Murray; Dylan Hayes, Rob Cornwall (Dan Byrne 63), Oscar Brennan, Patrick Kirk (Jamie Wilson 83); Philip Gannon, Fuad Sule, Eoghan Morgan; Brandon Perry, Steven Nolan, Dean Casey (Jamie Hamilton 57).
Subs not used: Kian Clarke, Eoghan Stokes, Cian Fay, Dylan Thornton.
Booked: None.
Cabinteely: Jack Menton; Adam Harney, Sean Fitzpatrick, Andrew McGovern (Mark Hanlon 70), Darragh McConville; Adam Maher, Rob Duggan (Jason Byrne 74), Steven Ball, Jack Hudson, Paul Fox; Michael Scott (Cian Lynch 76).
Subs not used: Mick Kelly, Aaron Robinson, Cian O'Sullivan, Rob McGee.
Booked: Adam Maher (54), Adam Harney (55).
Referee: Derek Tomney.
Attendance: 286 (official).
ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match: Fuad Sule (Bohemians).
