GYPSIES HEAD IN RIGHT DIRECTION
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BY
BOHEMIANS turned to their subs to sink Dundalk at Dalymount Park last night.
It was Dayle Rooney’s arrival – along with fellow subs, Declan Mcdaid and James Akintunde – that swung this match in the Gypsies’ favour.
And sure enough 10 minutes from time, the Rooney and Akintunde combo got the vital winner – Rooney with the cross from a free kick, Akintunde timing his run perfectly to steer his header into the net.
That proved to be enough for a victory which pushes Bohs up to third in the table.
Up until the new arrivals midway through the second half, Bohs had provided little more than huff and puff.
But then they found their stride, zipping their passes with pace and rhythm and figuring out how to play the gusty conditions.
The first half was poor but there were some decent individual displays in those opening 45 minutes.
Daryl Horgan offered Dundalk an outlet on the right, James Clarke found space at the other end of the field for Bohs and his link play with Filip Piszcek provided the Dundalk defence with plenty to think about.
However, centre-back Mayowa Animashaun was coping reasonably well, snuffing out any real threat.
Only Dundalk had any chances of note before the break,
Robbie Benson shooting over on 25 minutes and then wide on 37 minutes.
But once Bohs made their changes Mcdaid had three shots in a five-minute spell, the first two saved by George Shelvey and the third ending up in the side net.
The winner came 10 minutes from the end when Louie Annesley conceded a foul midway between the penalty area and the sideline.
Up stepped Rooney, in came his cross and up went Akintunde, his header guided beyond Shelvey to get the game’s only goal.
To their credit, lowly Dundalk never gave up the fight.
What they lack in quality, they at least have in spirit.
But when Benson was subbed off, Horgan was left without meaningful company on the field.
How he – and the Dundalk fans – must be yearning for the days when Stephen Kenny was in charge and the Lilywhites had a team filled with champions.
Now they are bottom of the table, without a manager and without a win this season.
If they are going to be part of the great escape, they need to get motoring soon.
Otherwise a gap will
grow.