Borefest In Dalyer As Gypsies Fail to Tame Wolves

Wolves began their preparations for their opening game of the new season against Stoke with a comfortable win over League of Ireland champions Bohemians.

The champions started very well and almost caught the visitors on the hop, Jason Byrne worked a lovely ball to Aaron Greene but  his shot lobbed over the bar.

Moments later there was a first goal. From a Wolves corner from Ronald Zubar, Jody Craddock got his head to it and it flew past Chris O'Connor in the goal and Wolves took the lead only after 6 minutes. An early goal to give the 200 odd fans who travelled over something to cheer about but it was a totally un inspirational opening period and that goal was their only shot on goal in the first 20 minutes

Bohs had another golden opportunity on 21 minutes and really should have scored. Jason Byrne making his first start since returning from injury worked his way into the area and tried to launch the ball over the  keeper but got an un lucky bounce and it just went over the bar.

Bohs from then were putting pressure on the Wolves defence and once again managed to break them down. Lee Dixon was putting in an impressive performance and was certainly trying to claim his place on more starting teams, on the 25th minute he caught the entire Wolves defence napping and smashed a shot off Hennessey and out for a corner but the keeper did well to claim the ball coming across. Pat Fenlon said earlier in the week that this game was only going to be a run out for Wolves but credit to the Bohs team they really were causing problems.  Wolves went in leading 1-0 at the break.

The second half started the way the first finished with no pace at all, although this was only a friendly both teams could have put alot more of an effort into the game. It wasnt any surprise that Wolves had the first goal scoring chance of the second half and it was Stephen Fletcher but he shot well wide of goal.

Bohs had a good penalty shout on 52 minutes he was working up a good shot on goal and he was pulled off the ball by Andy Keogh in the box right infront of referee Richie Winter, but the atrocious referee clearly still hadn't made a switch to Specsavers waving play on and it allowed Wolves to clear their lines.

Wolves second goal arrived straight after that penalty claim, Kevin Doyle put a through to Stephen Fletcher who to his credit hit a beautiful shot into the net.

On 72 minutes Mick McCarthy decided he would confuse the living daylights out of everyone including journalists in the ground by bringing on his entire bench, Van Damme, Jones, Craddock, Berra, Doyle, Fletcher and Jarvis all came off replacing them, Elokobi, Halford, Ebanks Blake, Mujangi Bia, Edwards, Vokes and Foley. Then to make it easier for everone 10 minutes later after everyone in the ground figured out who came off and on, Monaghan native Aaron McCarey replaced Wayne Hennessey in goal.

Last kick of the ball was a third goal for Wolves, from a corner substitution Geoffrey Mujangi Bia got it into the back of the net. And that was where the game finished.

Bohemians: C O'Connor(GK), M Doherty, O Farrell, G Cronin, J McGuinness, M Rossiter, L Dixon, S Traynor, A Greene, J Byrne, G Burke SUBS; C Sexton, S Keeley, R lopes, Y Laro, J Dwane, C Forrester

Wolves: W Hennessey, R Zubar, J Van Damme, D Jones, J Craddock, C Berra, A Keogh, K Henry, K Doyle, S Fletcher, M Jarvis SUBS; G Elokobi, A Mc Carey, R Stearman, S.E Blake, G Halford, G.M Bia, S Vokes, D Edwards, K Foley,S Ward

Daniel "Pitchside" Pitcher Twitter: @DanFM104Sport About: Dan "Pitchside" Pitcher provides insight and commentary as the chief soccer and rugby correspondent for Sportspeak.