Limerick FC 1-0 Bohemians
LIMERICK FC made it three wins in seven days with a 1-0 victory over Bohemians at Thomond Park on Monday night, with a late Robbie Williams goal maintaining their perfect record over the Gypsies this season.
Stuart Taylor’s side went into the game on a high following recent wins over Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk and created an opening within 50 seconds, Craig Curran heading over the bar.
That was about the only hint of a chance in the early exchanges, with both goalkeepers having little to do, and play stopped for at least six minutes after lengthy treatment for Bohs midfielder Shane Murray. He left the field on a stretcher, with Chris Lyons entering the fray.
When play did finally resume, both teams worked opportunities, with Patrick Nzuzi embarking on a 50-yard run down the right flank and into the penalty box before Roberto Lopes cut out the danger, and then Karl Moore setting up Dinny Corcoran, who scooped the ball over from all of six yards.
Limerick forced a good stop out of the visitor’s goalkeeper Dean Delany on 26 minutes, Williams floating the ball into Curran, whose initial attempt was blocked before firing at the Bohs netminder.
Bohs were marginally the better team in an underwhelming first half, but the best chances fell to the home side. In the 39th minute Delany had to be sharp to tip away Carel Tiofack’s shot for a corner, and two minutes later Stephen Bradley took possession of the ball in a great position, only to delay his shot and allow Dave Mulcahy the time to clear.
Limerick worked another scoring chance five minutes after half-time, with Rory Gaffney knocking the ball down to Joe Gamble, but the team captain missed from close range. Bohs then had an opportunity of their own, Lyons’ shot from distance prompting a good save from Shane Cusack.
The Limerick FC keeper was nearly caught out on 58 minutes when Moore delivered a dangerous free kick into the box and Cusack slipped, but the ball drifted wide.
The catalogue of close range misses had another addition midway through the second half; this time the culprit was Samuel Oji, who couldn’t quite match his magnificent defensive work with his finish from this chance.
In the latter stages of the game, the endeavours of Limerick’s third game in a week were beginning to tell and Bohs sought to take advantage. Cusack had to be at his best to produce a fine stop from a Neil Yadeahladi header that was on its way into the net.
With 11 minutes remaining, Bohs conceded a free kick on the East Stand side of the pitch and Bradley whipped in the set piece for Williams to direct a marvellously placed header into the top corner of the visitors’ net.
Limerick saw out the final minutes of the match with comfort, in the process recording a third consecutive victory over Bohemians and securing a hat-trick of wins in a hectic week. With three games to go, Stuart Taylor’s side lie seventh in the table, just one point behind Munster rivals Cork City, and those nervous looks at the relegation places a month ago have now given way to an upwards gaze at the top half of the Premier Division.
