League Report: Bohemians 2 - 0 St Patrick's Athletic

Sam McKeever reports from Dalymount Park

Goals from Anto Breslin and Andre Wright gave Keith Long’s men a comfortable two nil win over St Pats on Saturday afternoon as Bohemians move within two points of Shamrock Rovers at the top of the table.

The first effort on goal came from the home side as Keith Ward picked up the loose ball after Grant was disposed before Ward hit a powerful shot on his right foot with Brendan Clarke being equal tipping it around the post.

Pat’s grew into the game and could have been a goal ahead with good work down the left from former Dundalk man Robbie Benson who’s fizzing low cross almost met the foot of on loan striker Georgie Kelly.

Stephen O’Donnell’s side’s good work of growing into the game was undone by the freakiest of goals as Anto Breslin picked the ball up on the left-hand side before floating a cross over the despairing Brendan Clark in the Pat’s net.  

Bohemians started to take control of the game from there putting pressure on The Saints at will as a flick on from Andre Wright found Danny Grant who cut inside on his left foot before his effort sailed over the bar.

Soon after Bohemians doubled their lead a corner from the right from midfielder Keith Ward found the head of Andre Wright at the back post who shrugged off Lee Desmond to get his head to the ball first to power it past Clarke and Forrester who tried to clear it off the line before it hit the roof of the net.

Keith Ward seemed to be involved in all of Keith Long’s men’s positive play as he done brilliantly to beat Rory Feely on the right-hand side before playing a lovely cross across the box for Captain Keith Buckley who scuffed it with the goal at his mercy missing the target.

The Saints started to come back into the game a little bit after a period of Bohemians dominance with Jordan Gibson cutting on to his left foot from the right side as his deflected shot just went past the left post of Stephen McGuiness.

Good play by Andre Wright once again managed to put Chris Twardek through who was one on one with Rory Feely with Feely pulling down Twardek in the box with the Bohemians    players claiming a penalty to no avail as referee Derek Tomney awarded a free kick the other way.  

The home side should of killed the game off on the hour mark as Keith Ward was once again involved as his pacey ball across the box almost found the right foot of Twardek who arrived late in the box as he threw his foot at the ball missing it by centimetres at the back post.

Chris Twardek had a chance to make it 3 with 20 minutes to go a lovely ball by full-back Anto Breslin found Dawson Devoy in the box with Midfielder Twardek taking the ball off his feet before Twardek did some sharp dribbling in the box before unleashing a fantastic shot which smashed off the bar which has Brendan Clarke beaten in the Saints goal.

A comfortable day’s work for Bohemians and Keith Long with a number of impressive performances all round with this result leaving them in a good and confident place going into a top of the table clash against Shamrock Rovers next up in the league.

Bohemians: Stephen McGuiness; Andy Lyons, Rob Cornwall, Dan Casey, Anto Breslin; Keith Buckley, J.J Lunney, Chris Twardek, Keith Ward(Devoy 64), Danny Grant; Andre Wright

Subs not used: James Talbot, James Finnerty, Ciaran Kelly, Conor Levingston, Daniel Mandroiu, Dinny Corcoran.

Booked: Danny Grant (20), Keith Ward (50).

St Patrick’s Athletic: Brendan Clarke; Rory Feely, Ian Bermingham(Rennie 80), Lee Desmond, Jamie Lennon(McClelland 57); Robbie Benson Gerogie Kelly(Markey 80), Luke McNally, Billy King(Doona 72); Chris Forrester, Jordan Gibson

Subs not used: Conor Kearns, Dan Ward, David Titov.

Booked: None.

Referee: Derek Tomney

Extratime.com Player of the Match: Keith Ward (Bohemians).