BOHEMIANS 2 – 0 LONGFORD TOWN
Ayman Ben Mohamed came back to haunt his old club with a goal that secured a 2 goal lead which would prove enough for Bohemians in a tricky game against Longford Town on Friday night. After 3 losses from 3 away games, Dalymount Park is fast becoming a home comfort for Keith Long’s Gypsies who have now earned 7 points from three home games.
The Bohs boss made 4 changes to the team that lost disappointingly to Galway United last week. Derek Prendergast returned to the back line, Keith Buckley and Eoin Wearen returned to the midfield, while Izzy Akinade led the line. Anto Murphy, Dave Mulcahy, Mark Quigley and Kurtis Byrne were left out, writes KEVIN FAGAN. Akinade started brightly, linking up well with Buckley and Paddy Kavanagh – who looked in particularly good form. However, despite a lot of early possession, Bohs struggled to create many clear-cut chances. Lorcan Fitzgerald came closest with a shot that flashed over following a short corner. It was Longford who should really have taken the lead midway through the first half – but they failed to capitalise on Bohs mistakes. First, Lorcan Fitzgerald gave the ball away on the edge of the box, and Paddy Kavanagh had to make a terrific last-ditch tackle to stop David O’Sullivan. Next, O’Sullivan and Alex O’Hanlon tripped over each other when at least one of them should have scored. Bohs first real chance fell to Kavanagh, who was popping up all over the field. Akinade broke down the left and his cross found Kavanagh who struck the outside of the post. The Gypsies did take the lead on 42 minutes from an unlikely source. The lively Ayman Ben Mohamed checked back on the edge of the box, and slipped the ball through to Keith Buckley. Never a prolific goalscorer, Bucko showed great composure to chip the ball delightfully over Paul Skinner into the net. Then, on the stroke of half time, Bohs made Longford’s task even harder with a sucker-punch second. Captain Derek Pender flashed a brilliant cross to the far post where Ben Mohamed was waiting to slide the ball home. The former Longford man is fast becoming a cult hero with the Dalymount faithful, who have repaid his quality play with an excellent song in his honour. Listen out for it. The two goal cushion seemed to loosen Bohs up, and the home team played with a lot of confidence in the second half. Paddy Kavanagh was at the heart of this. The type of player who always tries something different – and tonight it all came off for him. He was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet when he hit the post for a second time with a deflected shot. The woodwork took a hammering all night – Longford’s Peter McGlynn struck Dean Delany’s post with a shot that could’ve re-opened the game as a contest. Derek Pender and Kavanagh linked very well on the right hand side, but the Bohs skipper’s night was ended by a dangerous challenge by Noel Haverty. The former St. Pats youngster seems to have a serious problem with Bohs, having been sent off in the League Cup meeting between the teams just last week. Haverty could easily have seen red again for pole-axing Pender. Keith Long will be sweating on the fitness of his captain, having lost him for much of the 2015 season with an Achilles injury. Next week, Bohs travel to the seaside to face Bray Wanderers – before the showdown with Shamrock Rovers on April 15th. Bohemians: Dean Delany, Derek Pender (Dylan Hayes, 78), Derek Prendergast, Dano Byrne, Lorcan Fitzgerald, Keith Buckley, Roberto Lopes, Eoin Wearen (Dave Mulcahy, 84), Paddy Kavanagh, Ayman Ben Mohamed, Ismahil Akinade (Kurtis Byrne, 64). Subs not used: Lee Steacy, Anto Murphy, Jake Kelly. Longford Town: Paul Skinner, Mark Hughes, James Mulhall, Pat Flynn, Noel Haverty, Kealon Dillon (Kaleem Simon, 14), Kevin O’Connor, Philip Gannon, Peter McGlynn (Don Cowan, 74), David O’Sullivan, Josh O’Hanlon. Subs not used: Ian Molloy, Daniel O’Reilly, Josh McKeown, Keith Beirne, Karl Chambers. BohemianFC.com Man of the Match: Paddy KavanaghREAD MORE
