Students gets lesson about that crucial first goal

FIN THE overall scheme of things, this result could be fairly important. Bohemians rediscovered some of their early season swagger and power to record their first win in five games - in the process denting the confidence of their most irreverent challengers by inflicting a first defeat in six matches.

Then again, it could all be turned on its head next Friday at Dalymount. This weekend's results underlined Turlough O'Connor's assertion that, truly, anybody can beat anybody, whatever about his interesting claim that "it's the most competitive league in Europe".

Furthermore, the margin between victory, a draw, or defeat is becoming so fine that every game seems to be turning on one or two crucial instances.

Saturday's meeting between the top two at Belfield was a case in point. More than ever, the first goal is crucial. So many teams are capable of protecting the slenderest of margins that comeback wins are rare. UCD and Bohemians are prime examples and have only relinquished leads three times between them this season.

So it was that Bohemians, backed by most in a relatively good sized crowd of between 1,500 and 2,000, went for UCD's throats. The students, traditionally slow out of the blocks, were unhinged after three minutes when James Coll beat Terry Palmer to Eoin Mullen's corner.

College may still be conducting an inquest at training this week as to why their backpost was unprotected. From the top to the bottom of the game, this most elementary of defensive ploys is sometimes still neglected. Even if it means bringing all ten outfield players back, surely it is worth it?

Thereafter, lively at both ends though it was, it seemed the game was cast in stone. Bohemians had the more mobile front pair in Derek Swan and John Ryan - who played heroically despite the death of his father the night before. What's more, the midfield quartet was far quicker in support.

The often isolated UCD front lined up with Jason Sherlock deliberately employed on the right, obliging Bohemians to employ left back Tommy Byrne as a man marker and Kevin Brady as a sweeper. Necessity being the mother of invention, it worked a treat.

Palmer cleared off the line from the hungry ex student Mullen, who also shot over twice, and Swan skillfully came close twice. Yet the whole plot might have been shredded within three minutes of Bohemians's opener when Doolin clearly handled inside his area - Mick Tomney was unsighted and his linesman declared it was just outside.

Bohemians just about weathered a post interval UCD storm, in part of their own making by playing too deep. The students, ironically, played some of their brightest football of the season. Pull backs across the face of the goal by Declan Fitzgerald and Darren O'Brien cried out for a final touch or the absent Mick O'Byrne. These came either side of Tommy Byrne clearing a goalbound shot from O'Brien that had Dave Henderson beaten.

As invariably happens, Bohemians struck on the break after 68 minutes when Derek McGrath and Brian Mooney combined to find Ryan - he skipped past one tackle and drilled a low 25 yard drive past Seamus Kelly.

"In fairness, they played some very good football and put us on the back foot. You can take it we were pleased with the second goal," conceded O'Connor. "I'm particularly delighted for John Ryan. I left it up to the lad as to whether he would play. His dad would have wanted him to play."

Said UCD manager Theo Dunne: "It was one of those days when nothing broke for us. Seamus Kelly had his quietest game for some time, but having said that, the better side won on the day.

Which, of course, is absolutely no guarantee of the next day.