TNS 4
Bohemians 0
Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling once had a saying, "They will be dancing on the streets of TNS tonight", well tonight they certainly will. The New Saints of Wales, who tonight have only played the second game of their new season have thumped League of Ireland champions Bohemians in the second leg of Champions League qualifying. A grim result for Irish football.
500 odd Bohemians fans travelled with expectation that their team would comfortably progress to the next round following last Tuesdays 1-0 win in Dalymount Park, and guarantee themselves a shot at the Europa League, if the Champions League didnt work out. That expectation was very short lived.
It didnt take long for the home side to open the scoring, Craig Jones got enough on the ball to dink over the Bohs keeper Barry Murphy, this would be the start of a painful and shameful game from Pat Fenlons side. Bohemians had gaps in their entire defense and they were punished for that on 13 minutes. Matthew Williams scored on the break, Matthew Berkley flicked it onto him and he ran un opposed and fired past a helpless Murphy.
At this stage a Bohs away goal would only level the sides, the problem was Bohs couldnt string together a few passes, they had enough trouble trying to get possession. Nothing was working for Irelands champions and they were 3-0 down after 20 minutes, from a corner, Chris Sharp nipped in from the far post to score a good goal but Bohemians had a mountain to climb. For an entire 45 minutes Bohs had very little or no ball and 2 away goals in the second half seemed very unlikely.
The second half started with a downpour of rain on the artificial pitch and those two goals atleast looked most unlikely. But to Bohemians credit they started well, Pat Fenlon must have taken some boxing tips from Mike Tyson who was staying at the Bohemians team hotel because this team looked like they had been battered at half time and came out an almost new team.
On 51 minutes Paul Keegan found room to take a shot only to see it smash off the crossbar, that was very un lucky and it game the Bohs fans a glimmer of hope that their team would pull through. Bohs had countless corners and had to watch their final attempts either go wide or straight into the arms of the TNS goal keeper.
Pat Fenlon almost desperately used all his subs with the hopes that the goals would come. Jason Mc Guinness came on for Conor Powell, Glen Cronin came on for Higgins and Aaron Greene came on for Jason Byrne.
Time was passing very quickly and still there was no sign of a goal for Bohs, not even 1. That glimmer of hope everyone had vanished on 75 minutes when TNS Struck for a fourth time, Matthew Williams getting a second. The TNS fans seemed to be as shocked as the Bohs fans who had gone across. There was no more hope and it was evident by the way they were playing that Bohs just gave up.
The game came to a sad end, a sad result for Irish football, as Bohs were the only side to fly the green, white and orange in the Champions League. Sporting FIngal and Shamrock Rovers now carry any hope of Irish success in Europe with equally massive mountains to climb.
Bohs now return to league action this Friday with a trip to the seaside to face Bray, who will fancy their chances as it will be difficult for Fenlon to not only pick his side up but to pick himself up after a depressing result tonight.
Related posts: