- Seamus Egan
- Tue, May 21 2013
Extratime goals from Chris Lyons and Kevin O'Leary helped Bohemians to a 4-2 victory over Bray Wanderers in the second round of the EA Cup at Dalymount Park on Tuesday night.
After a quiet opening, Bohs took the lead in the 7th minute. Chris Lyons' strike was blocked by Danny O'Connor and the ball broke to Stepehen Traynor who took it on and hit an excellent shot into the corner of the net, leaving Sean Holmes with no chance.
The home side doubled their lead six minutes later from the penalty spot. Chris Lyons made his way into the Bray box and went down after a challenge from Peter Thomas. Referee Paul MacLaughlin pointed to the spot straight away. Lyons steeped up to take the penalty and sent Holmes the wrong way to make it 2-0.
Aaron Callaghan's team looked comfortable for the first half an hour. It wasn't until the 32nd minute that Bray had their first effort on goal. Conor Earley's shot deflected off the Bohs wall and out for a corner. From the resultant set-piece, which was taken by Danny Joyce, the ball was flicked on and Bray captain Danny O'Connor arrived at the back post to score despite the best efforts of Greg Murray.
That goal seemed to give Pat Devlin's side more confidence and they nearly got back on level terms soon after. Joyce took another corner from the left and this time John Mulroy rose highest and his header looked to be destined for the corner of the net but the ball came back off the post.
However Bray continued to improve as the half went on and they did eventually equalise in the 39th minute. Sean Hurley received possession on the left hand side and put an excellent cross into the danger area. Striker Ismahil Akinade got there before any Bohemians defender to head home into the corner of the net.
There was little to choose between the teams in the opening quater of an hour of the second half. Both sides were guilty of giving the ball away too easily. It wasn't until the 64th minute when we saw the first shot on goal, however Chris Lyons' long range efort was off target and went harmlessly wide. Just a minute later Ismahil Akinade, who played very well on the night, got in behind the Gypsies defence and managed to shoot but his effort went across the goal and wide.
There was definitely a more cautious approach from both managers in the second 45 minutes. As the half progressed chances became more limited. Substitute Kieran Marty Waters very nearly made an immediate impact in the 80th minute. He found himself in time and space about 25 yards from goal and with his first touch hit a fine left foot shot which Murray in the Bohemians goal did very well to palm away for a corner.
The game went into extratime and Bohemians were not to be denied. They scored in the first minute of the first period. After Bray failed to properly clear a corner the ball broke to Chris Lyons on the edge of the area. Boh's number 14 hit it first time and the ball took deflection before finding it's way into the net.
Kevin O'Leary made it 4-2 in the 97th minute. O'Leary gathered possession and decided to take on substitute David Webster. After failing to properly shrug off Webster the Bohs number 24 with his back to goal decided to turn and try his luck. It proved to be the right decision as the ball found it's way into the net much to the delight of the home fans.
Substitute Dave Scully came close to adding a fifth in the second period of extratime. His right foot shot from outside the area went wide though. It didn't really matter in the end because Bohemians ran out comfortable winners to qualify for the third round of the competition.
Bohemians: Greg Murray; Michael Barker, Roberto Lopes, Luke Byrne (c), Ciaran Nangle; Shane Fitzgerald (Dwayne Wilson 55), Stephen Traynor (Dave Scully 91), Shane Murray (Darragh Reynor 77), Karl Moore; Chris Lyons, Kevin O'Leary.
Subs not used: Adam Kelly, Michael Scott, Santiago Miguel Falbo, Conor Little.
Booked: Dwayne Wilson (120)
Bray Wanderers: Sean Holmes; Peter Thomas (Kieran Marty Waters 80), Danny O'Connor (c) (David Webster 46) Paul Malone, Conor Earley; Sean Hurley, Daire Doyle, Danny Joyce (Dean Zambra 74), Kevin Knight, John Mulroy; Ismahil Akinade.
Subs not used: Ed McDonagh, Paul Moffat, Ger Pender, Stephen McGuinness.
Booked: Paul Malone (24), Peter Thomas (69), Daire Doyle (86)
Referee: Paul McLaughlin.
Attendance: 1,000 (estimate)
Extratime.ie man of the match: Chris Lyons (Bohemians).
