Dundalk 0 - 2 Bohemians

• Martin Nicholas
• Sat, Jul 11 2009


Glen Crowe's 15th minute poacher's effort helped a below-par Bohemians team to extend their lead at the top of the table at Oriel Park. The match turned in a two minute spell in the first half when Crowe's 150th league goal was swiftly followed by Michael Daly's straight red card a minute later.

Dundalk had started the game marginally better but when a flailing Chris Bennion in the Dundalk goal could only palm away a Conor Powell cross to his left, Jason Byrne got to the touchline first and his pass across the face of goal was easily tapped in by the former Shelbourne star. .

Brennan was at the centre of events again just a minute later when he was scythed down by Michael Daly on the right wing and referee Richie Winter had no hesitation in producing a straight red card for the two-footed challenge. .

Dundalk had gone into the game seeking a fifth win in a row, following last week’s victory terrific over title-hopefuls Derry City, but had little chance to show the same form after the sending off, with recent acquisition Alex Williams providing the sole attacking outlet for the Louth outfit in what was a scrappy and stuttering first half. The champions were far from the attacking threat one would have expected in the circumstances, Crowe missing the chance to double his tally when his close range header fell wide following Paddy Madden's cross from the left. .

For much of the match Pat Fenlon's side seemed content to let Dundalk huff and puff in the knowledge that the win would cement their place at the top of the table. Rossiter went close just after half time when his long range drive was almost fumbled by Bennion and Brennan's free kick shortly after the hour mark drifted just over the bar but Sean Connor's ten men never really looked like being overwhelmed. .

Williams understandably found his chances more limited than last week but the Scotsman looked the most likely Dundalk player to equalise, just narrowly beaten to a through ball in the 70th minute by the Brian Murphy. Six minutes later, a similar run ended with his shot drilled to close to the Bohemians goalkeeper to be a threat after last week's hero had done well to hold off Brian Shelley. .

At the other end, Paddy Madden who impressed during his loan spell at Shelbourne earlier in the season showed great strength and perseverance to rob Liam Burns off the ball in his own area but his cross from a tight angle eluded the onrushing Crowe. His lobbed through ball to Byrne could have settled the game in the 83rd minute but the ex-Cardiff striker fired wide of Bennion's right hand post despite being one on one, with plenty of space. .

In the end it was left to Brennan to settle any of the Phibsboro team's nerves two minutes later when Crowe's high ball found the Drogheda native unmarked at the far post. Controlling the ball with his first touch, the winger blasted home into the opposite corner of Bennion's goal to cap a good night's work for Fenlon's charges. With Derry City losing to Drogheda United at the Brandywell and Shamrock Rovers beating Bray Wanderers, Bohemians now head the table by five points. .

Dundalk: C. Bennion, S. Kelly, M. Collins, L. Burns, T. Heary, C. Turner (C. Mulvenna, 80), S. Kelly, M. Daly, D. O'Brien (Synnott, 89), A, Williams, G. Rowe.

Bohemians: B. Murphy, M. Rossiter, B. Shelley, K. Oman, C. Powell, J. Byrne, J. Ndo, P. Keegan, K. Brennan, G. Crowe, P. Madden (M. Hughes, 90) .

Attendance: 3,300

Referee: Richie Winter.

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Glen Crowe.