Bohemians 3
Bray Wanderers 2
Sean O’Neill reports from Dalymount Park
BOHEMIANS SECURED THEIR first points of the season with a comeback win over Bray Wanderers at Dalymount Park tonight.
Keith Ward struck in between a Dinny Corcoran brace to secure the win for Bohs who came back after being two goals down early in the second half.
A quickfire double just after the break from John Sullivan and Dylan Connolly put Bray into control but the hosts battled back excellently to secure their opening victory of the campaign.
Harry Kenny named an unchanged side from Bray’s win over Finn Harps while Bohs made just one switch with Philip Gannon making way for Keith Ward in midfield.
Ward began brightly in his role behind lone striker Dinny Corcoran as Bohs set the tempo early on. The two combined brilliantly on 12 minutes for the first effort on goal as Corcoran flicked to Ward whose rasping effort forced Peter Cherrie to save at full stretch.
The home side continued to press and should’ve taken the lead midway though the half. Cherrie completely misjudged a corner from the right but Rob Cornwall couldn’t take advantage as he headed his effort into the ground as the goal gaped.
Bohs were getting closer and just before the break Ward was desperately unlucky as he hit the underside of the bar with a thunderous free-kick after being fouled on the edge of the area.
After a goalless first period, the floodgates opened after the break as Wanderers scored two goals inside a minute. First Gary McCabe’s corner somehow made its way through a sea of bodies to John Sullivan at the back post with the midfielder side-footing into any empty net.
Seconds later Dylan Connolly raced through on goal, and after a defensive mix up, his left footed effort deflected over Shane Supple.
The hosts responded on 53 minutes though as Jamie Doyle used his physical presence to hold off a challenge and head directly into the path of Corcoran who had the time to settle himself before sliding into the bottom corner.
Anto Flood almost restored the visitors two goal lead when he turned in the box to shoot towards the top corner with his looping strike grazing the bar.
Twenty minutes from the end Ward got on the score sheet with Corcoran turning provider as he broke down the right before playing in the former Derry City man who found himself in acres of spaces and shot through the legs of Cherrie to equalise.
Doyle’s strength in the air was evident again for Corcoran’s winner as he knocked down brilliantly to his front man who slotted a low effort into the far corner to earn the three points for the hosts.
BOHEMIANS: Shane Supple; Derek Pender, Dan Byrne, Rob Cornwall, Lorcan Fitzgerald; Paddy Kavanagh, Ian Morris, Georgie Poynton, KeithWard(Philip Gannon, 83), Jamie Doyle; Dinny Corcoran.
BRAY WANDERERS: Peter Cherrie; Hugh Douglas, Tim Clancy, Conor Kenna, Kevin Lynch; John Sullivan, Keith Buckley (Ryan Brennan, 83), Aaron Greene (Karl Moore, 80), Gary McCabe (Jamie Aherne, 87), Dylan Connolly; Anto Flood.
Referee: Robert Hennessy