Subs save Bohemians

Two goals in less than a minute gave Bohemians a 2-1 victory over 10 man UCD at Belfield.

A rollercoaster second half was settled by Pat Fenlon's substitutions as Jason Byrne came off the bench to rifle an 80th minute equaliser.Then straight from UCD's Kick off fellow replacement, Rafael Cretaro collected the ball 25 yards from goal and curled a right footed shot low to Billy Brennan's left.

Greg Bolger gave the Dublin 4 side the lead on 55 minutes, making no mistake from the penalty spot after Ciaran Kilduff, was hauled down by Chris O'Conner as he attempted to dribble around the 'keeper by way of Chris Mulhall's slide-rule pass.

But the hero turned villain when Bolger, having collected a booking in the first half, foolishly kicked the ball away as Boh's looked to take a quick free kick. Referee Tom Connolly showed no hesitation in issuing the midfielder his marching orders.

Despite a bright start from the students it was Boh's who had control in the first half, with, Glen Cronin and Paul Keegan out-manoeuvring the opposing trio of Bolger,Keith Ward and Stephen Roche ensuring Martin Russell's back four had to cope with waves of black and red pressure..

The blue resistance managed to keep the champions scoreless in the first half with the unlikely threat of Owen Heary going closest. First from distance; his shot was deflected over by Andrew Boyle, and shortly before half time when he was close to converting Paddy Madden's corner only to be thwarted by Roche standing on the line.

The hosts efforts to release Kilduff, playing as a lone frontman, were largely in vain and their best outlet of attack was the tricky right winger Mulhall.

Early in the second half Bohemians looked increasingly frustrated, trying to break down the dogged student defence. That feeling was compounded when the penalty was conceded, the large away support groaning with each stray pass.

The small choral section of the home support, who had issued taunts of "theres seven of us and we're louder than you" had found some back up singers, until Bolger's red card stopped them dead in their tracks.

The Phibsboro side piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser and Byrne was sent on in place of centre back Steven Gray. But each cross was met by the commanding hands of goalkeeper Billy Brennan

On a rare counter attack; Glenn Cronin found himself on the left flank, he controlled his goal keepers kickout and his cutback to Byrne was perfectly weighted to allow the veteran striker unleash a powerful strike to the top corner.

UCD did not have long to wait for their heartbreak to be complete as Cretaro, who turned last weeks game against Sporting Fingal into a win, picked his spot beautifully.

A goal and a man down, the obstacles for UCD were now too big to scale and the away support returned Northside singing: 'we are top of the league.' But St Pats efforts in Tallaght will ensure the champions have to wait a little longer before returning to that familiar league position.

UCD: Brennan, Shorhall (Creaney 45), Nangle, Boyle, McMillan, Bolger, Ward, Roche, Kilduff, Rusk (McMillan) 85), Mulhall.

Bohemians: O'Conner, Heary, Powell, Cronin, Gray (Byrne 76), Shelley (Murphy 64), McGlynn, keegan, Quigley, Madden (Cretaro 60), Brenan

T Connolly (Dublin)