Bohemians are eight unbeaten against their fiercest rivals Shamrock Rovers after taking all three points in a hotly contested Dublin Derby at Dalymount Park. Danny Mandroiu was the main protagonist in the 2-1 victory, missing one penalty, converting
Bohemians are eight unbeaten against their fiercest rivals Shamrock Rovers after taking all three points in a hotly contested Dublin Derby at Dalymount Park.
Danny Mandroiu was the main protagonist in the 2-1 victory, missing one penalty, converting another then unleashing a 25-yard-strike that proved to be the winner.
Bohs, missing three of their regular back four, started on the front foot with Andy Lyons having the first real shot in anger, trying to curl a left footed effort to the far top corner.
Rovers responded well, and the dynamic midfield of Greg Bolger, Dylan Watts and Jack Byrne looked to take control.
The contest took a while to get going but when it did, boy did it catch fire!
The Gypsies were gifted the ideal opportunity to break the deadlock just fifteen minutes in. Jack Byrne dived in wildly on Kevin Devaney just inside the edge of the area and referee Rob Rogers was left with no option but to point to the spot.
Mandroiu stepped up confidently and smashed his penalty to his left but Alan Mannus ws equal to it, making an excellent save to turn the ball around the post.
Just moments later from a deep corner to the back post, Stephen Bradley's men, thought they had taken the lead. Dan Carr looped his header back across goal only for Andy Lyons to react sharply and head clear.
The first half drama wasn’t finished yet. As Rovers looked to build out from the back, Keith Longs troops saw their opportunity to pounce, pressing as a unit. Kevin Devaney’s toe ricocheted the ball into Ryan Swans path and as the forward turned sharply, Greg bolger came through the back for their second penalty.
Up stepped Mandroiu to make amends for his earlier miss, slotting into the bottom right hand corner.
Just before the break James Talbot made a miraculous double save to keep his side in front. The Bohs stopper got down well to save Aaron Greens low drive on the slick surface, but couldn’t hold it. Ex-Bohs man Dylan Watts came flying in on the rebound and Talbot reacted bravely to dive at the feet of the midfielder and tip over.
The Hoops deservedly got themselves back on level terms just six minutes into the second half. Dan Carr finished brilliantly,poking the ball home first time past the helpless Talbot following Ronan Finn’s clever lob over the Bohs back line.
In an enthralling game end-to-end game, Mandroiu stole the show with, what should be the goal of the season, letting the ball run across his body before hitting an outrageous and unstoppable strike from 25 yards out with his left foot.
It was back to the walls stuff for the Phibsboro outfit as Rovers piled on the pressure through Carr down the left side, delivering cross after cross but the Bohs rearguard held strong.
The home side should have killed off the game when Mandroiu missed his point blank header from Wade-Slaters dinked cross. Both Ryan Swan and sub Keith Ward should have done better from the following goal mouth scramble but Roberto Lopes did well to clear on both occasions.
