|
Bohemians 2 (Ward 26, Crowe 50)
Shelbourne 0
---
Crowe (seen left, making his Ireland senior debut against Greece) struck in the fiftieth minute to confirm Bohs' twelfth win of the season and blow the title race ajar.
The signifcance of this result will be rubberstamped if Gareth Farrelly's side can get something from Tolka Park next Friday night - when these two sides - the Premier Division's pacesetters - meet again.
With both sides unchanged from their last fixtures, Shels looked a little bereft of ideas in the first half and Bohs midfielder James Keddy - once more in a central position - was at the heart of their best chances.
He was put through by Crowe for Bohs' first shot on target after 50 seconds, and on 2 minutes, was felled in the area by Shelbourne captain Owen Heary for a definite spot kick.
Winger Bobby Ryan had his penalty saved however by Steve Williams, much to the chagrin of the large home support. Keddy though, relishing his tussles with Stuart Byrne and Wesley Hoolahan, played his part in Bohs' first as his shot, parried Williams which initially rebounded to Crowe, was stabbed home by Republic Under 19 striker Ward.
A quick release by Tony Grant five minutes after the break saw Crowe regain his hero status. He netted his fifteenth of the season as he latched onto the former Shamrock Rovers forward's through ball to finish well by Williams.
Despite thr introduction of Glen Fitzpatrick on the hour, the breakthrough was nowhere to be seen for the champions - and they are eight points clear, with Bohs' title challenge maybe coming a little too late inside the last six weeks of the season.
Bohemians: Gregg, Rice, Webb, Heary, Hawkins, Keddy, Lynch, Ryan, Ward (Caffrey 63), Crowe, Grant.
Shelbourne: Williams, Heary, Crawley (Fitzpatrick 59), Harris, Rogers, S Byrne, Crawford, Hoolahan (Cawley 74), Cahill, Moore, J Byrne (G McCarthy 84).
Referee: P Whelan (Dublin)