Bohemians 1 - 2 Portadown
Credit:
Portadown won out 2-1 against Bohemians in Dalymount Park on Tuesday night, despite a spirited performance from the Dublin club. Goal from Keith O'Hara and a smashing strike from Kevin Braniff ensured that Karl Somers goal to peg Ports back meant little in the end.
Barry Murphy had to go to full stretch to deny the visitors a goal on 17 minutes, just tipping an Alan Cawley free kick over the bar. Portadown again threatened minutes later, with Tim Mouncey just about failing to connect with a dangerous cross yards from goal.
Bohs had much of the first half possession, but repeatedly suffered from a lack of clinical finishing. Lee Dixon was the main creative player, but no one could get on the end of his crosses. Anto Flood was the targetman, but found himself offside a lot.
Robert Bayly had a chance on 37 minutes, when he won the ball in midfield and surged forward. He couldn't find the waiting Flood- who would have had a clear chance on goal.
Portadown grabbed the lead, somewhat against the run of play, a minute before half-time. After a Bohs attack, the ball was cleared long upfield. Bayly headed the ball against the ground, it fell to Kevin Braniff. Braniff promptly hit the ball sweetly from 30 yards past Barry Murphy to give the Reds a 1-0 lead at half time.
The visitors enjoyed a brief spell of dominance in the opening minutes of the second half, but Bohs came back into it quickly enough. Despite several successive crosses from Brennan and Dixon though, they still were unable to finish. Portadown struck again on the hour mark through Keith O'Hara. Richard Lecky fed Jordan Baker who, with his back to the goal and two defenders marking, was able to hold the ball up until O'Hara arrived to finish.
Bohs went on the attack straight after that goal though, and pegged Ports back on 63 minutes. Anto Flood broke away, and played Karl Somers in for a tap-in inside the penalty area with a clever through ball.
Ports manager Ronnie McFall was sent to the stands on 77 minutes after voicing his displeasure to a linesman, and a minute later Bohs' Killian Brennan was red carded after elbowing an opposition player.
Bohs tried to get the equaliser, but their biggest failing was the lack of a real finisher in the box. Crosses kept coming into Anto Flood, but the ex-Shels and Galway striker couldn't get a head to any of them. Bohs dominated play for the most part in the final minutes, but Portadown defended well to ensure the victory.
Bohemians: Barry Murphy [Craig Sexton HT], Owen Heary (c), Aidan Price, Ger O'Brien, Robert Bayly, Killian Brennan, Anthony Flood, Ollie Cahill, Lee Dixon [Gary Burke '59], Karl Somers [Stephen Traynor '74], Kevin Feely
Subs Not Used: Daniel Joyce, Christopher Forrester, Roberto Lopez, David Lodola
Portadown: David Miskelly, Ross Redman [Chris Ramsey HT], Keith O'Hara (c), Gary Breen, Kevin Braniff, Tim Mouncey [Shane McCabe 78], Richard Lecky, Brian Gartland, Jordan Baker, Alan Cawley, Philip Craig Subs not Used:: Aaron Hogg, Alan Teggart, Neil Armstrong, Aaron Haire, Sean Mackle
Referee: Tom Connolly
Attendance: 800 (UNOFFICIAL ESTIMATE)
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Kevin O'Hara
Barry Murphy had to go to full stretch to deny the visitors a goal on 17 minutes, just tipping an Alan Cawley free kick over the bar. Portadown again threatened minutes later, with Tim Mouncey just about failing to connect with a dangerous cross yards from goal.
Bohs had much of the first half possession, but repeatedly suffered from a lack of clinical finishing. Lee Dixon was the main creative player, but no one could get on the end of his crosses. Anto Flood was the targetman, but found himself offside a lot.
Robert Bayly had a chance on 37 minutes, when he won the ball in midfield and surged forward. He couldn't find the waiting Flood- who would have had a clear chance on goal.
Portadown grabbed the lead, somewhat against the run of play, a minute before half-time. After a Bohs attack, the ball was cleared long upfield. Bayly headed the ball against the ground, it fell to Kevin Braniff. Braniff promptly hit the ball sweetly from 30 yards past Barry Murphy to give the Reds a 1-0 lead at half time.
The visitors enjoyed a brief spell of dominance in the opening minutes of the second half, but Bohs came back into it quickly enough. Despite several successive crosses from Brennan and Dixon though, they still were unable to finish. Portadown struck again on the hour mark through Keith O'Hara. Richard Lecky fed Jordan Baker who, with his back to the goal and two defenders marking, was able to hold the ball up until O'Hara arrived to finish.
Bohs went on the attack straight after that goal though, and pegged Ports back on 63 minutes. Anto Flood broke away, and played Karl Somers in for a tap-in inside the penalty area with a clever through ball.
Ports manager Ronnie McFall was sent to the stands on 77 minutes after voicing his displeasure to a linesman, and a minute later Bohs' Killian Brennan was red carded after elbowing an opposition player.
Bohs tried to get the equaliser, but their biggest failing was the lack of a real finisher in the box. Crosses kept coming into Anto Flood, but the ex-Shels and Galway striker couldn't get a head to any of them. Bohs dominated play for the most part in the final minutes, but Portadown defended well to ensure the victory.
Bohemians: Barry Murphy [Craig Sexton HT], Owen Heary (c), Aidan Price, Ger O'Brien, Robert Bayly, Killian Brennan, Anthony Flood, Ollie Cahill, Lee Dixon [Gary Burke '59], Karl Somers [Stephen Traynor '74], Kevin Feely
Subs Not Used: Daniel Joyce, Christopher Forrester, Roberto Lopez, David Lodola
Portadown: David Miskelly, Ross Redman [Chris Ramsey HT], Keith O'Hara (c), Gary Breen, Kevin Braniff, Tim Mouncey [Shane McCabe 78], Richard Lecky, Brian Gartland, Jordan Baker, Alan Cawley, Philip Craig Subs not Used:: Aaron Hogg, Alan Teggart, Neil Armstrong, Aaron Haire, Sean Mackle
Referee: Tom Connolly
Attendance: 800 (UNOFFICIAL ESTIMATE)
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Kevin O'Hara
About Niall Farrell
Niall Farrell is our correspondent at Tolka Park, covering the goings-on at Shelbourne. You can visit Niall's website for further information and contact details- niallf.net. View Full Profile