It was a night of mixed emotions for the bumper crowd at Dalymount this evening as they continued celebrating their long awaited return to Europe and bid a teary farewell to their skipper and club legend, Derek Pender. The game itself had a bit of
It was a night of mixed emotions for the bumper crowd at Dalymount this evening as they continued celebrating their long awaited return to Europe and bid a teary farewell to their skipper and club legend, Derek Pender.
The game itself had a bit of a testimonial feel to it, both teams looking comfortable in possession without threatening too much. Kris Twardek and Danny Mandroiu, returning from suspension, traded shots from distance.
Just after the half hour mark, Liam Buckley’s troops decided to play party pooper snatching the lead through an excellent finish from Daryl Fordyce. Twardek did well to roll Paddy Kirk down the right wing before whipping in a delicious low cross for the front man to guide home on the stretch.
Not an easy finish but just rewards for some excellent passages of play. The hosts ended the half well with man of the evening Pender, delivering two quality deliveries that saw Keith Buckley have a low shot bravely blocked, followed by Danny Grant catching the top of the cross bar with a flick towards goal.
The home side started the second half a different team, playing higher up the pitch as Grant and Mandroiu got more involved, and it was the two young Bohs and irish under-21 stars who helped them get back on level terms.
Firstly, Grant showed lovely quick feet to dribble in from the left wing before being tripped on the edge of the area. Up stepped Mandroiu to smash home the resulting free kick in off the left hand post to make it one each.
Then the moment of the evening happened!
Andre Wright was hauled down inside the area by Luke McNicholas and guess who steeped up to take? Yes, Derek Pender and, boy did he keep his cool, sending the keeper the wrong way to make it 2-1 as Dalymount erupted.
What a way to bow out from the League of Ireland legend, securing three points, a third place finish and a match winning goal as he brought the curtain down on another incredble season in the #GreatestLeagueintheWorld!
