Bohemians 2 - 1 Aston Villa
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Bohemians FC beat English Premier League side Aston Villa 2-1 at Dalymount Park thanks to a late strike by 17 year old trialist Enzo.
Bohemians started off very deep in the opening few minutes and it was clear that they were going to play counter-attacking football against a full strength Aston Villa side. The only notable absentee’s were England internationals Emile Heskey and James Milner.
It was the English Premier League team who done most of the pressing and the ball spent most of time in the Bohemians half. Ashley Young looked lively on the right hand side, showing the fans what he could do with the ball, but his early attempt was easily picked by Chris O’Connor in the Bohemians goal.
The visitors kept possession but never really tested O’Connor in the opening few minutes. They were made pay in the 20th minute when a rare Bohemians attack ended in the Airtricity League side taking the lead. An attempted through ball by Jason Byrne for Aaron Greene was cut out by Aston Villa goalkeeper, Brad Friedel, but he sliced his clearance and the ball fell to Conor Powell outside the box. The Bohs defender chipped the helpless former USA international.
Gabby Agbonlahor was guilty of missing numerous chances, with the best on coming in the 27th minute when he found room in the Bohs penalty area only to shoot high and wide.
A long range effort from Stewart Downing was saved well by O’Connor as Bohs went one up at half time.
The second half was no different from the first as Villa pressed for an equaliser. However it was the Bohemians front man, Paddy Madden who had the first attempts on goal but his shots were blocked down.
Villa looked like they were lost for idea’s and Bohemians defended really well but they couldn’t hold out and it was in the 69th minute when youngster Marc Albrighton’s run and cross found John Carew at the back post and the big centre forward headed in the equaliser.
The travelling Aston Villa fans, who came in their hundreds, must have thought they would run out winners from there but Chris O’Connor had other ideas. Once again the Bohs shot stopper caught, blocked and punched everything away from his goal. The best saves came from two Barry Bannan shots, both were brilliantly tipped away.
It looked like Bohs were just playing for a draw until another rare counter attack. Paddy Madden found 17 year old trialist, Enzo who smashed the ball past Friedel.
Villa just kept the ball after that and it seemed like they were happy to run out losers here at Dalymount Park. As for Bohemians, they might think ‘What if we had of played like that against TNS’.
Extratime.ie Man Of The Match: Chris O’ Connor
Bohemians: Chris O' Connor, Matt Doherty, Conor Powell, Ruaidhri Higgins, Jason McGuinness, Ken Oman, Mark Quigley, Gary Dempsey, Aaron Greene, Jason Byrne, Lee Dixon
Subs:Killian Brennan, Orrin Farrell, Gary Burke, Yael Haro, Paddy Madden, Glenn Cronin, Enzo, Stephen Chambers, Roberto Lopez, Jason Dwane, Craig Sexton(GK)
Aston Villa: Brad Friedel, Eric Lichaj, Ciaran Clark, Richard Dunne, Stewart Downing, Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Marc Albrighton, Stliyan Petrov, Nigel Reo-Coker, Nickey Shorey
Subs: John Carew, Elliott Parish, Barry Bannan, John Hogg, Habib Beye, Carlos, Cuellar, Isaiah Osbourne
Bohemians started off very deep in the opening few minutes and it was clear that they were going to play counter-attacking football against a full strength Aston Villa side. The only notable absentee’s were England internationals Emile Heskey and James Milner.
It was the English Premier League team who done most of the pressing and the ball spent most of time in the Bohemians half. Ashley Young looked lively on the right hand side, showing the fans what he could do with the ball, but his early attempt was easily picked by Chris O’Connor in the Bohemians goal.
The visitors kept possession but never really tested O’Connor in the opening few minutes. They were made pay in the 20th minute when a rare Bohemians attack ended in the Airtricity League side taking the lead. An attempted through ball by Jason Byrne for Aaron Greene was cut out by Aston Villa goalkeeper, Brad Friedel, but he sliced his clearance and the ball fell to Conor Powell outside the box. The Bohs defender chipped the helpless former USA international.
Gabby Agbonlahor was guilty of missing numerous chances, with the best on coming in the 27th minute when he found room in the Bohs penalty area only to shoot high and wide.
A long range effort from Stewart Downing was saved well by O’Connor as Bohs went one up at half time.
The second half was no different from the first as Villa pressed for an equaliser. However it was the Bohemians front man, Paddy Madden who had the first attempts on goal but his shots were blocked down.
Villa looked like they were lost for idea’s and Bohemians defended really well but they couldn’t hold out and it was in the 69th minute when youngster Marc Albrighton’s run and cross found John Carew at the back post and the big centre forward headed in the equaliser.
The travelling Aston Villa fans, who came in their hundreds, must have thought they would run out winners from there but Chris O’Connor had other ideas. Once again the Bohs shot stopper caught, blocked and punched everything away from his goal. The best saves came from two Barry Bannan shots, both were brilliantly tipped away.
It looked like Bohs were just playing for a draw until another rare counter attack. Paddy Madden found 17 year old trialist, Enzo who smashed the ball past Friedel.
Villa just kept the ball after that and it seemed like they were happy to run out losers here at Dalymount Park. As for Bohemians, they might think ‘What if we had of played like that against TNS’.
Extratime.ie Man Of The Match: Chris O’ Connor
Bohemians: Chris O' Connor, Matt Doherty, Conor Powell, Ruaidhri Higgins, Jason McGuinness, Ken Oman, Mark Quigley, Gary Dempsey, Aaron Greene, Jason Byrne, Lee Dixon
Subs:Killian Brennan, Orrin Farrell, Gary Burke, Yael Haro, Paddy Madden, Glenn Cronin, Enzo, Stephen Chambers, Roberto Lopez, Jason Dwane, Craig Sexton(GK)
Aston Villa: Brad Friedel, Eric Lichaj, Ciaran Clark, Richard Dunne, Stewart Downing, Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Marc Albrighton, Stliyan Petrov, Nigel Reo-Coker, Nickey Shorey
Subs: John Carew, Elliott Parish, Barry Bannan, John Hogg, Habib Beye, Carlos, Cuellar, Isaiah Osbourne
