Bohemian Football Club Crest

@bfcdublin A dominant Bohemians spurned plenty of chances before securing a narrow victory over a struggling UCD side, Shane Quinn reports. The Gypsies badly needed the three points to improve a home record that before last night had yielded just one home win from seven games. To emphasise the superiority Bohs enjoyed here, UCD did not earn a corner kick nor register a shot on target throughout.

UCD travelled the short distance to Dalymount Park having won only four league games this season, leaving them cast away third from bottom. Their darkest moment so far this term was a 7-0 humbling in Derry, which left scars that will take a long time to heal.

Meanwhile, had Bohs’ home form mirrored their results on the road, they would be comfortably clear of leaders Shamrock Rovers, who once again lost 1-0 to their bogey side Bray Wanderers last night. As it is, ahead of Bohs' trip to Tallaght on Monday, the lead is cut to three points, with Rovers having played a game less.

The need to quickly improve the points tally in Phibsborough made this victory an important one for Bohs. It was the visitors who were to threaten first through poor kicking from Chris O’Connor in the fourth minute. The Bohs keeper hit the ball straight to former Bohs A-team player Dean Marshall but, about 30 yards out, the winger badly executed his shot.

UCD began surprisingly well here, wasting a glorious chance to open the scoring in the 18th minute. A fine pass through to Paul O’Connor split the Bohs defence apart, but the midfielder, clear on goal, shot harmlessly wide. That proved a significant moment in this match.

Some bad fortune was to undo UCD’s good early work on 23 minutes. Christy Fagan’s attempted pass was adjudged by referee Neil Doyle to have struck Ciaran Nangle’s hand in the area for a penalty kick. The responsibility lay with Fagan himself to take the spot-kick, which was struck beautifully to the bottom-left corner beyond goalie Ger Barron. An early setback like this for a team with such indifferent form would be quite a test for UCD.

For Bohs, there was a change in system last night, with the goalscorer Fagan lining up in attack alongside Anto Flood in a 4-4-2 formation. The alteration from 4-5-1 brought with it greater attacking options, with Bohs looking more dangerous than they have been for quite a while.

Killian Brennan once more showed his outstanding quality from dead ball situations when he released a thunderbolt free-kick in the 52nd minute. The Drogheda man was more than 30 yards from goal, with his effort leaving Barron helpless only to clip the crossbar.

Keith Buckley was presented with a good opportunity in the 62nd minute after Brennan sauntered into the area, before locating his fellow midfielder. Buckley turned inside the full-back, Nangle, but his effort was a tame one which Barron caught easily.

With the second half progressing, Bohs were dominating, and seriously troubling their opponents. Highlighting the Students’ deterioration in the second half, by the 68th minute they had used their three substitutions. But without the second goal having yet arrived, a team is never finished no matter how greatly under the cosh they are. The problem for the Belfield club is how rarely they did threaten here – they have only scored 12 goals this season while conceding 26.

Flood, who worked manfully all night, brilliantly set up the surging Ger O’Brien in the dying minutes with a reverse pass. The full-back, however, showed all the finishing hallmarks of a defender as his shot trickled wide of the right-hand post. That was the home side’s last real opportunity with the supporters already switching their thoughts to Monday night with chants of: “Bring on Rovers.”

Bohemians: O’Connor; Heary (C), Burns, Price, O’Brien; Buckley (Dixon, 82), Bayly, Cronin (Burke, 87), Brennan; Flood, Fagan (Traynor, 78)

UCD: Barron; Harding, O’Connor, Leahy (C), Nangle; Marshall, Corry (Ledwith, 45), O’Connor, Meenan; Belhout (Doyle, 68), Benson (Rusk, 56).

Possession – Bohs: 58%; UCD: 42%.

Attempts on target – Bohs: 7; UCD: 0.                 

Attempts off target – Bohs: 5; UCD: 7.

Corners – Bohs: 7; UCD: 0.

Bookings – Bohs: Cronin, Heary; UCD: Harding.

Referee – Neil Doyle (Dublin).

Written by Shane Quinn