Hatswell ensures it ends well for Oriel Park faithful

AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION Dundalk 1 Bohemians 0:WAYNE HATSWELL'S 76th minute goal was enough to give Dundalk their first win over Bohemians since the 2002 FAI Cup final.

The Lilywhites’ player-coach rammed home from close range after Bohemians had failed to clear a Ross Gaynor corner. It was the 35-year-old’s first goal for the club and one that condemned the Dublin side to their third defeat of what is becoming the most unpredictable of seasons.

The champions controlled possession for most of the first-half, with their midfield trio of Glen Cronin, Paul Keegan and Ruaidhri Higgins pulling the strings. They failed, however, to turn their dominance into clear-cut chances.

Cronin had a sighting of goal early on but he fired over from 20-yards after Gareth McGlynn had shown great tenacity to win a corner from nothing. Peter Cherrie was called into action in the 17th minute, standing tall to block a Mark Quigley effort after the striker had left two home defenders for dead.

Bohs carried on where they left off at the end of the first-half. Jason Byrne headed over from six-yards after Cronin had smashed a volley in his direction. Cherrie then had to race from his line to save from the midfielder who was picked out by a sublime pass from the impressive Quigley.

The home side again relied on scraps but they almost took the lead on the hour mark. McGlynn, who faded after a bright first-half, lost his footing on the left. Stephen Maher shifted the ball to Neale Fenn and the former Bohemians man looked to have squeezed his effort in at the near post only for Barry Murphy to tip the effort wide at the last second.

Hatswell’s header saw Dundalk take the lead 17 minutes later and although Byrne shot wide on the turn late on, Bohemians couldn’t find an equaliser.

DUNDALK: Cherrie; Kelly, Burns, Breen, Hatswell; Maher, Miller, Melligan (Breen, 26 mins); Kuduzovic, Fenn (McGuigan, 83 mins), Gaynor.

BOHEMIANS: Murphy; Shelley, McGuinness, Gray, Rossiter; Cronin, Keegan, Higgins (Madden, 64 mins); McGlynn (Brennan, 72 mins), Byrne, Quigley (Greene, 80 mins).

Referee: Dave McKeon(Meath).