Crowe goal establishes 11-point lead

Bohemians - 1 Longford Town - 0With less than half of this league played, it's not surprising the "champions elect" tag has been getting on the nerves of everyone at Dalymount Park. But having gone a 12th game without defeat and having moved 11 points clear at the top of the table, they can expect some more salvos in the psychological war being waged by their rivals during the weeks ahead.

There may be a long way to go, but Stephen Kenny's side already have the destiny of this championship in their hands.

Better teams have, of course, blown bigger leads, but if the Dublin club can maintain the mixture of skill, application and sheer good fortune they displayed against a determined and capable-Longford side in this game, they'll have little to worry about from the chasing pack.

A single goal from Glen Crowe, combined with the club's first clean sheet in the league so far, was enough to earn them the points.

In an open and enjoyable game, Longford contributed more than their fair share to the evening's entertainment. However, they might well have lost by more had the league's most prolific striker of recent years been in more ruthless form.

Then again, by the end they must have wondered how they hadn't managed to grab a point, as Eric Lavine, Barry Ferguson and then Sinisa Savic all came close to upsetting the hosts with a very late goal.

The late rally was in stark contrast to the visiting side's rather timid opening spell. But after having been dominated almost completely through the opening half hour, the visitors might well have gone in for the break in front.

For all their possession, the home side could manage little more than a string of half-chances, with Stephen O'Brien called on to make only one save of real note.

Longford, though, could barely make it out of their own half at that stage, with Lavine's inability to hold up the ball in the face of some determined tackling ensuring that Bohemians goalkeeper Ashley Bayes got to observe the bulk of the opening period from a distance.

Still, when they did finally venture forward, Longford came close to making a dramatic breakthrough. Seamus Crowe knocked a corner in from the right towards the edge of the six-yard box, from where Lavine's young striking partner Paddy Mulvihill should at least have hit the target with his header.

The miss always seemed likely to prove costly and, sure enough, Bohemians were in front 10 minutes later. Keegan flicked on a long kick out and Crowe took a single touch before smoothly knocking the ball past the advancing O'Brien.

Worse was to follow for Mulvihill in the second half. After Lavine completely missed Sean Dillon's lobbed pass, the ball ran into the path of the 18-year-old but he hurriedly blasted high above the Bohemians crossbar.

By then Longford were enjoying a good deal more possession and Brian Byrne's introduction into midfield threatened to provide the required spark to the attacking side of their game.

Bohemians, though, looked better bets to add to their lead. Neither Mark Rutherford nor Fergal Harkin came close to dominating their respective wings, but both men created good chances for those inside them, with well-judged crosses.

Indeed, only a combination of good interventions from the impressive Ferguson and a poor finish by Crowe prevented the league leaders from wrapping up the points before the game entered its last quarter.

In the end, it didn't matter. The single goal was enough and, until Sunday at least, there might even be Double talk to put up with.

BOHEMIANS: Bayes; Lynch, Hawkins, Coughlan, Webb; Harkin (Ryan, 75 mins), Hunt, Caffrey, Rutherford; Crowe, Keegan (O'Neill, 87 mins).

LONGFORD: O'Brien; Murphy, Ferguson, John, Dillon; Kirby (Byrne, 56 mins), Perth, Sheridan, Crowe; Mulvihill (Savic, 68 mins), Lavine.

Referee: H Whoriskey (Dublin).