Bohs youngsters prove their worth after Long’s ‘easy decision’
KEITH LONG said fielding a team of kids at Richmond Park on Saturday was an easy decision to make.
Bohemians manager Long made no apologies for making 11 changes to the side that beat Derry City in their FAI Cup quarter-final at the Brandywell last Wednesday, doubtless with next Sunday’s semifinal at home to holders Cork City in mind.
And starting seven players aged 21 or under, three of whom made their first team debuts, Bohs’ youngsters cruised to a stunning win over an experienced and in-form St Pat’s outfit.
Ali Reghba (18) scored twice on his senior debut either side of fellow new boy Robbie McCourt (20) also scoring his first goal for the club to give Bohs a ninth straight victory.
Unchanged Pat’s exposed poor defending to take a fourth-minute lead, Achille Campion heading home a Jamie Lennon free-kick.
But the young Gypsies levelled on 27 minutes when Danny Grant crossed for striker Reghba to score from close range.
Bohs dominated into the second half and were deservedly in front on 56 minutes. Brendan Clarke parried a Grant shot with McCourt alert to fire in the rebound.
Reghba then sealed victory on 83 minutes, collecting a pass from 17-year-old sub Promise Omochere, also making his debut, to drill past Clarke, as Bohs leapfrogged St Pat’s
to fifth place.
“It wasn’t a risk. It was just common sense,” said Long on playing a completely different team.
“It would have been reckless of us to put the players who won on Wednesday back out again on Saturday. It was a decision that was quite easy to make.
“It was important that we gave the boys who played there a rest. And the players who came in were fantastic.
“Ali Reghba comes in and bags a brace while Robbie McCourt got his first goal for the club having recently joined us from West Brom.
“There were lots of good performances and showing what they are worth. There was a vibrancy throughout the team.
“It was obviously very refreshing and rewarding to make 11 changes and come here and win the game in the manner in which we did. It’s a fantastic win.”
And a shocking defeat for St Pat’s which their manager Liam Buckley struggled to digest.
“That’s as poor as we’ve been this season,” admitted Buckley after the game.
“There was a lack of energy. It was just a nothing performance.
“I said to them that they can’t perform in Sligo with the same 11 and then come back here and throw in that.
“I’m absolutely fuming with the performance, to be honest.”