Match report

from ireland.com

Bohs fail to take their chances
From Paul Doyle at Dalymount

Bohemians 1-2 Halmstad

25/07/01: Swedish champions Halmstad snatched victory from their Irish counterparts at Dalymount Park tonight thanks to two soft but priceless away goals and yet it could have been all so different for Bohemians.

Pete Mahon’s men were rewarded for their positive approach in the 23rd minute. After a quick Paul Byrne corner from the left, Simon Webb clipped the ball to the back post where the Swedes had unforgivably neglected to mark Glen Crowe whose bullet-like header flew past international keeper Haakan Svensson. But what Crowe will perhaps remember most about this match are the two glorious chances he spurned, twice he found himself in one-on-one situations with Svensson but both times he failed to beat him.

Just eight minutes after taking the lead, Bohs conceded a soft equaliser. A slick one-two between Robert Andersson and Stephan Selakovic caught out Avery John and left Selakovic clean through on Wayne Russell. Russell sprang at the feet of the striker but succeeded in only bringing him down and conceding an obvious penalty.

Centre-back Tommy Jonsson stepped up to slot the ball low to the keepers left and into the back of the net. That goal took the wind out of Bohs sails and it took them 10 minutes to reassert themselves.

Bohemians emerged for the second half as attack minded as they had begun the first indeed just five minutes in they almost regained the lead. The ever dangerous Mark Rutherford surged down the left and flashed an excellent cross into the centre which Crowe met acrobatically and diverted towards goal. Again Bohs were to be thwarted by the Swedish keeper’s agility. Moments after that came the fatal Swedish strike. After Bohs attack broke down Michael Neilson picked out Thor Bjorn Arvidsson who switched it across to Selakovic who lobbed Wayne Russell expertly.

Though their spirit never waned Bohs lost a little cohesion after that strike, Crowe found himself increasingly isolated upfront and, against a side who are already half-way through their domestic season, it suddenly became harder for the home midfielders to locate a teammate.

The Swedes could have grabbed a killer third on two occasions but both times were denied by last gasp interventions by Shaun Maher. The lively way in which Bohs played out the final five minutes of the match plus memories of great past deeds still means, however, that this tie is very much alive.

All credit to Bohs who really went all Halmstad from the start.

Crowes goal was almost carbon copy of the levadia goals. He then missed 2 glorious chances when shooting at the keeper. Penalty was badly given away, think was Avery John & Russell was too slow off his line. Russell guessed the correct side & think might have got finger to but 1-1. Bohs definitely unlucky to not be leading at the break.

In 2nd half was always obvious swedes would probably get a goal if Bohs failed to score again. After long ball & defensive scramble, Russell shuck at the edge of the box, swedish forward controlled the ball & calmly looked up & chipped over John into empty net - contolled finish would not see often in the eL. In fairness Bohs never looked like getting the 2nd goal & Halmstads could have got another easily as superior fitness & confidence of 2 away goals started to tell. Crowe almost connect with low cross & then Rutherfprd controlled long cross ball by Maher at full pace & hit great low cross but Nesovic gone awol.

If Bohs played like they did last night against Levadi they would have won by 5 ot 6-0 easily. After 2 weeks they looked a lot sharper & fitter but effectively the tie is over.

How did game sound on the radio? IMO would ahve a great TV game with a few goals & end to end stuff. Bohs attacking game would probably a better advert for the league than $hels stodgy play.

The start of the league will be a real come down for Bohs & we'll probably beat them in the 2nd game.

Whatever about the result,it was a great performance by Bohs and you have to give them credit for going at Halmstad,if only Crowie had put away the chances that he normally would take,Bohs would probably be travelling for the second leg 3-2 up,but let's not blame Glen too much. I agree with Pete Mahon,you can still progress but it is very vital that you get an early goal to put the wind up them,and take it from there.No matter what happens,though,you've still done IRISH football proud and set the standards for the rest of us to follow.

Apparently "the Monk" was spotted by an eL fan who runs a certain eL website.....

We friends like you have to wonder who the 'gypsies' enemies are :eek: