- Patrick O'Connor
- Sat, Jul 08 2023
Patrick O Connor reports from Dalymount Park
The full house at Dalymount Park on Friday night witnessed a five-goal thriller with the home side just edging it by a goal and claiming a very valuable three points.
Bohemians had dropped out of the top four the previous week and while this win still leaves them in fifth position, they are now only a point behind fourth placed Dundalk.
The results elsewhere went in their favour also, with Derry City being the only top four side to register a win on Friday night.
The Gypsies started and finished the game the stronger side and some of their attacking play, in the second half in particular, will give manager Declan Devine great heart as they head towards the business end of the season.
Dundalk contributed in no small way to this cracking game also, scoring two great goals before half time, but they played second fiddle for most of the match and can have no complaints about the end result.
Bohs started much better than the Lilywhites and it was no surprise when their early pressure paid off with the opening goal in the 14th minute.
Paddy Kirk played a lovely though ball to Jonathan Afolabi down the left channel. The centre forward then drove a low hard ball across the goalmouth and James McManus was lurking at the far side of the box and struck a sweet shot past Nathan Sheppard.
The home side continued to dominate after that goal, forcing numerous corners and free kicks, but their set piece deliveries were poor all night, something Devine will have to address if they have aspirations to finish in the top four.
Dundalk equalised in the 23rd minute against the run of play and it was Finnish player Johannes Yli- Kokko who got them level.
He picked up a throw in on their left side, showed a great first touch to slip past Krystian Nowak before firing confidently past James Talbot.
The drama continued in the 37th minute when the Lilywhites silenced the home crowd with an impressive lead goal, this time from the right side of their attack.
The ball was worked wide to Archie Davies and his out swinging cross was met by the head of Connor Malley who had ghosted between the central defenders and then powered a header past Talbot to make it 2-1 at half time.
Devine introduced three substitutes in the second half and all three were key to turning around the half time deficit.
Kris Twardek caused lots of problems for Dundalk when introduced in the 70th minute and it was his low driven ball across the goalmouth that led to their equaliser, fellow substitute John O’ Sullivan firing first time past Sheppard.
The home side smelt blood at this stage as Dundalk were hanging on for a draw and they got the winner they deserved in the 84th minute through hard working striker Afolabi.
Substitute James Clarke led a breakaway attack and his delightful through ball found Afolabi who had the pace to get past the last defender and slide the ball past Sheppard for a great winning goal.
Bohemians were fully deserving of their 3-2 victory and as they have two games in hand over all the current top four sides, they are certainly one of the serious contenders for those much -coveted European spots based on last night’s performance.
Bohemian FC: James Talbot, Paddy Kirk, Krystian Nowak, Kacper Radkowski, Jordan Flores, Declan McDaid (Kris Twardek 70), Adam McDonnell (John O’ Sullivan 70), Keith Buckley, James McManus, Dylan Connolly (James Clarke 61), Jonathan Afolabi (Nickson Ofalabi 88)
Subs not used: Joseph Colins (GK); Bartlomiej Kukolowicz, James Akintunde, Cian Burne, Chris Lofeta.
Booked: Jonathan Afolabi (49), Louis Annesley (57), Pat Hoban (89)
Dundalk: Nathan Sheppard, Archie Davies, Hayden Muller, Louis Annesley, Darragh Leahy, Paul Doyle (Ryan O’ Kane 82), Johannes Yli-Kokko (John Martin 72), Greg Sloggett (Keith Ward 86) Conor Malley, Daniel Kelly (Alfie Lewis 72), Pat Hoban
Subs not used: Peter Cherrie, Mark Byrne, Anthony Moyo, Dualta Honney, Mayowa Animasahun.
Booked: Greg Sloggett (47), Daniel Kelly (72), John O Sullivan (82)
Referee: Rob Hennessy
Attendance: 4,238
Extratime.com Player of the Match: Jonathan Afolabi (Bohemians)
