SAINTS ALIVE
Bolger on target to maintain title hope
ANYONE wearing a mankini or bikini was granted f ree entry to Richmond Park last night as part of a promotional push by the club — and things almost went Pete Thong for St Patrick’s Athletic against an impressive Bray Wanderers.
Greg Bolger scored the only goal of the game in the 45th minute to keep the Saints’ slim title hopes alive and create club history with a ninth league win in a row.
And with Cork City losing at home to Limerick, it turned out to be a great night for the Inchicore club as they closed the gap to two points on the second-placed side.
But it was a nervy 90 minutes as Bray set about disrupting them with a packed midfield.
While Ryan McEvoy and John Sullivan were doing a fine job of breaking up play in the middle of the park, they were also feeding possession to Graham Kelly who was f i nding pockets of space between the back four and defensive midfielder Bolger.
And Kelly almost finished off Bray’s best move of the half in the 33rd minute when David Cassidy’s neat backheel was collected by lone striker David Scully, who then fed his gallivanting team-mate.
Just as he was about to pull the trigger at the edge of the box, Killian Brennan showed the other side of his game by tracking the run and throwing himself in front of the ball to block the danger.
Just two minutes prior, Bray had provided another sign of their intent when Hugh Douglas galloped down the right wing in that awkward style of his, arms flailing and long ginger hair flowing, before unleashing a thunderous shot across goal which Brendan Clarke could only push away.
The hosts had chances of their own before eventually breaking the deadlock on the stroke of halftime. James Chambers, as he so often does, broke from midfield and used his strength to create the opening when he beat centre back Niall Cooney to the ball and brushed his challenge aside.
The Dubliner then composed himself on the left flank and took his time before picking out a pass to Jamie McGrath in the box. The teenager opted for a dummy after noticing the run of Bolger in support.
It worked a treat and allowed the Wexford native a clear sight of goal. He had enough time to take a touch and with his second, the ball landed in the top corner of the net. Pat’s were ahead but barely deserved it.
After the interval a familiar pattern formed with Bray probing and Pat’s toiling.
The visitors almost equalised in the 61st minute when Scully was j ust denied by Jason McGuinness before Cassidy’s scorching injury-time shot was tipped onto the bar by Clarke.