Video
Details
Date | Time | League | Season |
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12 October 2023 | 7:45 pm | LOI Men's Premier Division | 2023 |
Match Report
Bohemians Remain In Contention For European Places
Despite a strong opening 45 minutes from the students, in which they held the visitors to nil, a goal right at the start of the second half buckled the UCD defence who were never able to recover.
Bohemians were poor in the opening 45 minutes, whilst UCD produced a solid defensive shift. But it was only a matter of time before the dam broke.
Off the back of their 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Derry City last time out, UCD were determined to bounce back tonight, and they showed great character and fight in the first 45 minutes of this game. Playing without Captain and centre-back Jack Keaney, you wouldn’t have noticed, Adam Wells and Eanna Clancy looking relatively solid in the centre of defence.
It took the visitors Bohemians a while to properly settle into the game, as the students established a high press early on in this game. After a few minutes, Bohs quickly were able to play through the press as they looked to cause the hosts some problems going forwards. Their first real chance of the game came in the 13th minute as Bohs’ left winger Danny Grant picked up the ball on the half way line, and drove at right back Evan Osam.
This was a fascinating match-up throughout tonight’s game, this time the Bohs man was able to drive past his man to tee up a shot from the edge of the 25-yard box. Cutting in on his right foot, Grant’s shot was miscued and went sailing over the bar, much to the relief of Osam and the rest of the UCD defence, who were carved open.
Arguably the chance of the half, in the 20th minute Jonathan Afolabi was played in one-on-one with UCD Goalkeeper Lorcan Healy by a wonderful ball over the top from James Clarke. With Afolabi beating the UCD offside trap, Afolabi set himself for a shot at goal. Healy was in two minds whether to come off his line or not, and was caught in no mans land.
Much to the surprise of everyone, Afolabi’s shot was blasted over the bar, which is a real surprise given his form this season. Healy was relieved, as it was not his finest bit of goalkeeping, but the scores remained level.
Seven minutes later, Healy made a crucial save from a close-range header from Afolabi again, this time the cross coming in from the right boot of Bartlomiej Kukulowicz. With Afolabi no more than 6 yards away from goal, Healy’s save was purely reflex, as he tipped the ball over the bar. The UCD defenders swarmed to their goalkeeper to congratulate him on the save.
UCD grew into the game as the half progressed, and looked solid in defence. They pressed high up the pitch and were clearly motivated to put in a big performance tonight after their game against Derry.
Healy was called into action again right at the end of the first half, and he came up with the goods yet again as he denied Ali Coote’s effort from close range. Driving through the UCD defence and into the penalty area, a Coote goal looked inevitable, but Healy was down to his left quickly to deny the midfielder his goal. He struggled to gather the ball at the first time of asking, but quickly dived on the ball to bring an end to proceedings in the first half.
The stubborn UCD defence would only last for so long, and three minutes into the second half Bohemians would finally break the deadlock in this game. After a bright start from UCD, they were caught out of possession high up the pitch, and Bohs countered clinically.
Afolabi had the ball at his feet just inside the UCD penalty area, laying it off to Clarke on the edge of the box. Clarke made light work of a scrambling UCD defence, dribbling through on goal before calmly slotting the ball into the bottom right hand corner. Healy was unable to prevent the goal, as he was wrong-footed and blind-sighted by his defence.
Bohs would push on for a second goal, and looked all but certain to just two minutes later. Dylan Connolly found himself with acres of space on the right wing, and played a dangerous ball towards the face of goal. Ali Coote flicked the ball to Afolabi at the bck post with his heel, and Afolabi scuffed the shot. It dribbled wide of the back post, and he couldn’t believe he missed.
After a long period of sustained pressure, Bohemians doubled their lead on the 65th minute mark. After an excellent run by Dylan Connolly down the right wing, he drove to the byline before whipping in a dangerous cross into the UCD penalty area.
The cross was met by the head of Danny Grant at the back post, as he climbed highest of everyone to flash the ball across the face of goal. His header nestled nicely into the bottom right corner, leaving Healy with no chance of saving the effort.
Despite an encouraging first half performance from the students, they were starting to feel the pressure.
A brilliant late goal from UCD’s Matthew Alonge would reduce the deficit to just one goal, but it would prove to be only a consolation score. Nevertheless, it was a brilliant strike from Alonge, whose shot from distance nestled perfectly into the bottom left corner.
UCD would push for a late equaliser as the game opened up hugely in the final few minutes, but almost got caught out on a few occasions as Bohs looked to capitalise on an abundance of space in the UCD defence.
UCD were unable to equalise, and Bohemians leave Belfield with all three points, though it was a rather tense final few minutes. Bohemians were a much-improved side in the second half, shaking off some fatigue after their huge game on the weekend. They could have scored many more goals tonight, were it not for some excellent saves from Lorcan Healy, as well as some bad luck for Jonathan Afolabi.
Timeline
14. Harry Curtis | 37' | |
48' | 15. James Clarke | |
Jake Doyle Danu Kinsella Bishop | 55' | |
Mikey Raggett Daniel Norris | 55' | |
4. Eanna Clancy | 59' | |
Harry Curtis Michael Gallagher | 59' | |
65' | 12. Danny Grant | |
70' | James Clarke Jordan Flores | |
70' | Dylan Connolly Declan McDaid | |
Sean Brennan Brendan Barr | 71' | |
Ciaran Behan Matthew Alonge | 71' | |
79' | Danny Grant John O'Sullivan | |
79' | Ali Coote James Akintunde | |
85' | Jonathan Afolabi Dean Williams | |
12. Matthew Alonge | 89' |
Past Meetings
(Round 25)
2 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Dalymount Park Bohemian FC v UCD AFC |
(Round 12)
1 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl UCD AFC 1-1 Bohemian FC |
(Round 6)
2 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Dalymount Park Bohemian FC 2-1 UCD AFC |
(Round 31)
1 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Dalymount Park Bohemian FC 1-0 UCD AFC |
(Round 23)
1 - 3LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl UCD AFC v Bohemian FC |
(Round 13)
3 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Dalymount Park Bohemian FC v UCD AFC |
(Round 7)
1 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl UCD AFC v Bohemian FC |
1 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Dalymount Park Bohemian FC v UCD AFC |
3 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl UCD AFC v Bohemian FC |
3 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Dalymount Park Bohemian FC v UCD AFC |
0 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl UCD AFC v Bohemian FC |
7:45 pmLOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl UCD AFC v Bohemian FC |
7:45 pmLOI Men's Premier Division
Dalymount Park Bohemian FC v UCD AFC |
3LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl UCD AFC v Bohemian FC |
Ground
UCD Bowl |
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UCD Bowl, Greenfield Park, Greenfield, Roebuck, Clonskeagh-Belfield ED, Dublin, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, County Dublin, Leinster, D04 XT65, Ireland |
Full Time in The Bowl, it finishes 2-1 to Bohemians!
Late goal for UCD! Scored by substitute Matthew Alonge! What a strike
UCD are just about clinging on here. Bohs are looking rampant in the search for their third goal of the game, but UCD are keeping them 'at bay' somewhat
Bohs double their lead! A brilliant run to the line from Dylan Connolly and an excellent cross into the box is met by the head of Danny Grant at the back post. His header flashes across the face of goal and nestles nicely into the bottom right corner
CLOSE from UCD's Ciara Behan! Picking up a loose ball on the edge of the Bohs box, he takes aim at the bottom left corner. His shot is narrowly wide
Bohs are really pushing on for a second here. Looking really dominant after getting that opening goal
Another golden chance goes a-begging from Afolabi! He can't believe he's missed it! Connolly's ball into the box is flicked on by Ali Coote's heel to Afolabi, who scuffs his shot completely and it dribbles wide
GOAL for Bohemians, scored by James Clarke. He picks up the ball on the edge of the UCD box after a pass from Afolabi. Clarke thn driblles through the UCD defence and slots the ball past Healy's left side
The Second Half gets Underway
Half Time, 0-0
Crucial save from Lorcan Healy on the brink of half time to keep the scores level. A strong shot from Bohs' Ali Coote is well saved by the UCD Goalkeeper
Good spell of possession from Bohemians. Looking to pile the pressure on the students with time running out in the half
An effort from Bohs' James Clarke from range is saved comfortably by Healy
Excellent save from Lorcan Healy! A Bartlomiej Kukulowicz cross found the head of Afolabi, who headed it goalwards, with Healy getting a crucial finger-tip save to tip the ball over the bar for a corner. Great Save.
Afolabi with a perfect chance, played in over the top by a perfect ball from James Clark. Lorcan Healy was in two minds whether to come out or not and found himself in no mans land. Afolabi scuffed his chance and sent it over the bar. Chance wasted.
A good cross from Dylan Connolly finds Grant at the back post. Lorcan Healy forced to make a save to concede a corner
A good run from Danny Grant down the left wing ends with his attempted shot from 25 yards which was blazed over the bar. Nonetheless, Bohs are really growing into this game
Bit of miscommunication at the back from UCD and now Bohs have the first corner of the game
Decent start from the students, pressing high up the pitch. Bohs just taking a bit to settle
Kick Off in Belfield