Wright stuff gives Bohs Euro vision
BOHEMIANS 2 DUNDALK 1
BRILLIANT Bohemians ended Dundalk’s domestic 31-match unbeaten run to move closer to sealing a European spot.
A goal in each half from Luke WadeSlater and Andre Wright did the damage at Dalymount Park to clinch a fully-deserved win for the Gypsies, who require a point from their last two games to secure a place in the Europa League.
Substitute Michael Duffy pulled back a consolation for the league champions with the last kick of the game.
Bohs struggled early on to penetrate Dundalk’s trio of centre-backs but found joy through another route for the breakthrough on 28 minutes.
Left-winger Danny Grant looked up to spot Wade-Slater racing into space and delivered a perfectly-weighted crossfield pass.
With Dane Massey more advanced than usual, he was unable to track the run of the midfielder, though Gary Rogers made the job easier by racing outside of his area.
Wade-Slater had the simple task of rolling his first-time shot along the turf into an empty net. It was the first time for the Lilywhites to fall behind in the league since July and they should have conceded again in first-half stoppage time.
When Sean Hoare was dispossessed by Keith Ward, the schemer had a run on goal but opted to check back onto his right foot before hoisting his shot a yard over.
Dundalk have averaged more than two goals per game this season but were struggling for potency.
From the one real chance they got between the two goals, Georgie Kelly wasn’t quick enough to capitalise on Bohs keeper James Talbot spilling a right-wing cross.
Manager Vinny Perth had seen enough by the hour enough, thrusting two of his flu victims, Michael Duffy and Sean Gannon, off the bench into the fray.
The expected onslaught for an equaliser didn’t come. Instead, a second from Bohs did four minutes later.
Rather than Dundalk snuffing out a Bohs move, Hoare allowed the ball stray from his control and Wright took full control.
Though the striker was still 25 yards from goal, he rifled the loose ball low and hard under the grasp of Rogers.
Teenager Ross Tierney producing another exceptional display in midfield, almost grabbed a third with a shot he sliced wide. Dundalk finally got one back at the death through Duffy’s close-range finish.
BOHEMIANS – J Talbot; D Pender R Cornwall (A Barry 44), J Finnerty, P Kirk; R Tierney, S Allardice; L Wade-Slater, K Ward (D Devoy 82), D Grant; A Wright (R Swan 90).
DUNDALK – G Rogers; D Cleary, S Hoare (L Lotefa 72), A Boyle; C Dummigan, R Benson, S Murray, J McGrath (M Duffy 60), D Massey; D Kelly (S Gannon 60), G Kelly.
REF – G Kelly (Cork)