BOHEMIANS 0 – 1 BRAY WANDERERS
A smash and grab goal from Kieran ‘Marty’ Waters 15 minutes from time gave Bray Wanderers three precious points, relegated Shelbourne, and ensured that next week’s final round of games will have a ‘squeaky bum’ edge for Bohemians, Bray, and UCD. Should Bohs fail to get a point in Drogheda, wins for UCD and Bray would condemn the Gypsies to a scarcely believable relegation play-off against either Mervue United or Longford Town.
This wasn’t in the script. The script read that it was Owen Heary’s final home game as a Bohs player, he would come on for the final few minutes to a hero’s applause, and the Gypsies would secure their Premier Division status for 2014 with a comprehensive performance. However, Pat Devlin has proved many times that has no interest in Bohs-friendly scripts. He convincingly won a tactical battle against Heary and Bobby Browne by seeing his team sitting deep for most of the game, nicking a goal on the break, and defending well to the death, writes KEVIN FAGAN.
Slippery conditions, swirling winds, and a steady stream of rain made this tension-charged game even scrappier than it needed to be. Bohs were clearly the more nervous team. Bray knew exactly what they needed to do, but Bohs lacked the Seagulls’ urgency. The home side knew a point would suit them, and they seemed to play with this in the back of their minds. The very first play of the game saw Karl Moore let the ball slip under his foot and out of play, and the pattern continued frustratingly like this for most of the night.
Even though their play wasnt particularly slick, Bohs were well on top of the first half as Bray sat back to an almost staggering degree. Dinny Corcoran and Ryan McEvoy combined for a well worked corner, but McEvoy’s shot was blocked by old friend Jason Byrne. Nerves on the pitch were echoed in the Jodi Stand, where the Bohs fans got some solace from the fact that Shamrock Rovers were surprisingly doing them a favour in beating UCD. Corcoran had the best chance of the half just before the break following superb work from Karl Moore down the left. Moore fed Keith Buckley, who laid off to Corcoran – but the striker’s shot flew over the bar from 10 yards.
As the game wore on, the growing realisation that this would be ‘one of those nights’ became all too apparent. The key moment arroved on 67 minutes. Stephen Traynor was played clean through by a nice lobbed Corcoran pass, but dallyed too long and allowed keeper Darren Quigley to block down his tame shot. In the ensuing scramble, the ball somehow popped up to an onrushing Corcoran, who could only direct his shot onto the crossbar. Bohs fans shared knowing looks; they’ve been following this team for too long to think it would all be wrapped up in a neat little package.
The inevitable goal came against the run of play on 76 minutes. Ryan McEvoy seemed to be fouled in the air, and the Bohs players seemed to stop. Neil Yadolahi played an aimless ball into no one, and suddenly Bray were on the attack. Kevin O’Connor slipped a lovely ball through to Kieran ‘Marty’ Waters who trapped the ball well but still had a lot to do. He wonderfully held off challenges from Yadolahi and Lopes before keeping his balance and firing past Dean Delany in off the upright. No one has ever explained why Kieran ‘Marty’ Waters is called Kieran ‘Marty’ Waters, but if things go wrong next week, Bohs fans will be cursing his names.
The fightback never really materialised. There was one appeal for a penalty when Corcoran seemed to be manhandled in the Bray box, but the toothless attacking display never really looked like creating a goal all night. The final whistle should have resulted in a celebration and even a mini lap of honour, but instead was greeted with something of a stunned silence.
Next week’s final fixtures almost certainly pits the Gypsies with the most difficult game of the three relegation showdowns. They travel to Drogheda to face a group of players eager to impress ahead of the following week’s FAI Cup final. UCD take on an already relegated and turgid Shelbourne team, while Bray are at home to a Dundalk side that have already sealed European qualification. Just to reiterate, both Bray and UCD have to win and Bohs have to lose for the unthinkable to happen. Stranger things have occured in football, and there will undoubtedly be some squeaky bums heading north on the M1 next Friday evening.
Bohemians: Dean Delaney, Derek Pender, Roberto Lopes, Neil Yadohali, Luke Byrne, Keith Buckley, Darragh Reynor (Dave Scully 88), Ryan McEvoy, Karl Moore (Andy Mulligan, 85) Stephen Traynor (Kevin Devaney, 79), Dinny Corcoran. Subs not used: Owen Heary, Michael Barker, Daniel Byrne, Greg Murray.
Bray Wanderers: Darren Quigley, David Webster, Shane O’Connor, Danny O’Connor (Daire Doyle 63), Dean Zambra, Ismahil Akinade, Kevin Maher, John Mulroy, Kevin O’Connor, Kieran Marty Waters, Jason Byrne (Gary Dempsey 75). Subs not used: Kevin Knight, Eoin Hyland, Ryan Coombes, Niall Cooney, Shane Redmond.
Attendance: 1,376
