Bohemian Football Club Crest

A strong second half performance by Bohemians saw them finally breach the New Saints’ dogged defence after creating a string of opportunities.

The Gypsies will have been frustrated not to have won by a greater margin but have the consolation of not conceding an away goal. TNS were relieved to have left with such a narrow loss.

TNS (founded in 1959), have been the dominant team Welsh side in recent times, winning four league titles in the past six years. They find themselves in the middle of their off-season, and bound to be short of match sharpness. But they didn’t look it here early on.

The 8-1 outsiders made a confident start and, even at such a premature stage, were clearly superior to fellow Welsh side Rhyl, who Bohemians dismantled two years ago. The unmistakeable Matthew Berkeley, in his incandescent yellow boots, passed up a fine chance in the eighth minute. Full back Daniel Holmes got in easily down the right flank and his cross reached Berkeley who shot wide at the back post.

The greasy surface after heavy rain was making for ideal passing conditions. On 20 minutes, some excellent skill and hold up play by Raffaele Cretaro where he fed the ball out to Conor Powell saw his cross ricocheting nicely to the in form Paddy Madden. Unfortunately when Madden turned Baker, he slipped and did not get enough power in his shot to trouble goalkeeper Paul Harrison.

Cretaro was causing all sorts of trouble with his speed and fearlessness. He skinned Holmes and cut into the box only for captain Steven Evans to rescue the situation by conceding a corner with a last-ditch block.

The Saints went awfully close to grabbing an away goal through their prolific goal-scorer, Chris Sharp, on 36 minutes. Winger Craig Jones produced a strong, incisive run down the right flank and Sharp stretched as best he could but poked Jones’ low cross a yard wide.

Madden predictably looks a player high on confidence but spurned an excellent opportunity five minutes from the break. He and Cretaro linked up beautifully with the latter slipping Madden through only for the forward to get his body shape wrong and scuff wide. Bohemians were having plenty of success down the right where Christopher Marriott was not proving as reliable as his fellow defenders.

There was the belief Mark Davies’ players would tire as the game wore on and Bohemians would be able to exploit any space. Right-back Holmes looks a brilliant player going forward. He skipped his way around Paul Keegan with a stunning piece of skill but the drag back evaded all his team-mates.

Madden then missed two outstanding chances within seconds of each other when firstly he was put through by Ruaidhrí Higgins but saw his effort superbly saved by Harrison. The ball was not properly cleared and arrived out to Killian Brennan who delivered a precise cross which Madden headed wide from six yards.

The game was being played at a searing pace, something the visitors were not comfortable with. Bohemians claimed a deserved lead on 65 minutes and if Madden wasn’t going to score, he was determined to provide an assist. He whipped in a delivery that Brennan met firmly with a downward header into the bottom left corner of the net.

It was clear TNS were tiring now and hopeful of departing with just a one-goal deficit. On 75 minutes Jason Byrne entered the fray for Cretaro who had run himself into the ground. Mark Quigley was then dreadfully unlucky to see his curling long-range effort clatter off the crossbar on 83 minutes. In injury time Byrne dragged the ball back to Madden free in the box but he blazed over. It just wasn’t his night. 　

Bohemians: Murphy; Shelley, Heary (C), Oman, Powell; Quigley, Higgins, Keegan, Brennan; Cretaro (Byrne, 75), Madden

The New Saints: Paul Harrison; Holmes, Baker; Evans (C), Marriott; Jones, Ruscoe, Hogan, Williams (Darlington, 84), Berkeley (Wood, 77); Sharp

Possession: Bohs: 55% TNS: 45%

Attempts on target: Bohs: 4 TNS: 0

Attempts off target: Bohs: 9 TNS: 5

Corners: Bohs: 5 TNS: 1

Bookings: Bohs: Brian Shelley, Raffaele Cretaro TNS: Craig Jones

Sent off: Bohs: None TNS: None

Referee: Hendrikus Nijhuis (the Netherlands)