- Patrick O'Connor
- Sat, Mar 11 2023
Patrick O'Connor reports from Richmond Park
Bohemians climbed to the top of the Premier Division table as they deservedly beat St Patrick's Athletic 2-0 at a sold-out Richmond Park on Friday night.
Over 5,000 fans crammed into the Inchicore venue with the large travelling Bohs supporters queueing for over an hour in advance of kick off, and they and the home fans were treated to a cracking high intensity game in what was another great advertisement for League of Ireland football.
Bohemians are a changed side under the stewardship of Declan Devine this season and they played some scintillating football at times and will now have to deal with the added pressure that comes with being the league leaders.
Tim Clancy’s side contributed hugely to this feisty encounter and did not play badly by any means but they have yet to hit the heights of last season and would certainly not have expected to now be in ninth position in the table, even after five series of matches.
The match got off to a cracking start with lots of tackles flying in from both sides and the first casualty of the night was St Pat’s centre back Tom Grivosti who succumbed to a hard challenge in the 15th minute and had to leave the field to be replaced by Noah Lewis.
The early departure of Grivosti probably unsettled the home side as two minutes later they conceded a goal from a set play.
A Bohemians corner in the 17th minute was worked to an unmarked Ali Coote and his delicate chip to the far post found the head of Jonathon Afolabi who outjumped the defence to score his first goal for the club.
Pats responded well after the concession of the goal and the speed of Thomas Lonergan and Jake Mulraney caused problems for Bohs at the back but any attempt on goal was capably dealt with by James Talbot who was rock solid all night.
There was a stoppage before the break due to the presence of a drone overhead but it did not distract the visitors who maintained their 1-0 lead up to the half time whistle.
Bohs lost the influential Afolabi through injury in the 56th minute but it did not throw them off their stride with replacement Dean Williams offering a different type of threat up front for the remainder of the game.
The home side were certainly firing on all cylinders in the second half but their task was made all the more difficult in the 73rd minute when Jamie Lennon got a second yellow and then a red card for an unnecessary, studs up challenge on Paddy Kirk.
The St Pats substitutes added more energy in the final stages of the game with Serge Atakayi and Conor Carty driving at the tiring Bohs defence and when the latter was presented with a good opportunity in the 87th minute he scuffed his shot and it went wide.
Devine’s side would probably have been more than happy to finish the game at 1-0 but they got the insurance second goal in the 90th minute when goalkeeper David Odumuso was dispossessed on his end line by Grant Horton and he teed up Williams to stroke the ball into an empty net.
Bohemians will now look to consolidate their position at the top of the table when they entertain UCD at home in their next match.
Meanwhile, it does not get any easier for St Patrick's Athletic who have the unenviable task of facing last year’s league winners Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium, both games being played on St Patrick's Day.
St. Patrick's Athletic: David Odumosu; Anto Breslin, Sam Curtis, Tom Grivosti (Noah Lewis 15), Jay McGrath (Conor Carty 76), Joe Redmond; Jamie Lennon, Jake Mulraney (Serge Atakayi 69) Vladislav Kreida, Chris Forrester, Thomas Lonergan (Eoin Doyle 69)
Subs not used: Dean Lyness, Carl Axel Sjoberg, Mark Doyle, Ben McCormack, Thijs Timmerman.
Booked: Joe Redmond (23), Jamie Lennon (51 & 73), Sam Curtis (74).
Red Card: Jamie Lennon (73).
Bohemian: James Talbot, Grant Horton, Krystian Nowak, Kacper Radkowski, Paddy Kirk, Jordan Flores, Adam McDonnell (James Clarke 86) James McManus, Ali Coote, James Akintunde (Declan McDaid 64), Jonathan Afolabi (Dean Williams 56)
Subs not used: Luke Dennison, Drew Baker, Jay Benn, Keith Buckley, John O’ Sullivan, Kris Twardek.
Booked: Paddy Kirk (53).
Referee: Neil Doyle
Attendance: 5,002
Extratime.com Player of the Match: Ali Coote (Bohemians).
