Rhyl slump to Bohs after Disastrous Five Minute Spell
Rhyl 2-4 Bohemians 3-9 on Aggregate.
Bohemians sent Rhyl crashing out of the Intertoto Cup with a 4-2 win at Belle Vue for a 9-3 aggregate victory. For almost half an hour, the Lilywhites matched their Irish opponents who are currently in the middle of the their season and top of the Eircom League, but a disastrous five-minute spell saw them concede three times.
The day started badly for the Welsh side as 'keeper Lee Kendall was unable to play through illnes, so John Gann deputised. The reserve 'keeper was called into action after twenty minutes when Harpal Singh crossed from the left to find an unmarked Jason Byrne, but the ex-Cardiff City striker could only shoot straight at Gann. Rhyl's best player Mark Connolly then went close to opening the scoring, but his shot from outside the box was fired over after a good build-up.
Bohs should have certainly taken the lead on 25' as they began to exert pressure on their hosts, but Byrne missed another glorious opportunity with a free header from a Mark Rossiter cross. The full-back then provided another telling ball and this time it was converted by Stephen O'Donnell who pounced following indecision from a nervous Gann and defender Georg Horan. Just moments later and further indecision from Gann and his other centre-half, Carl Ruffer meant that Glen Crowe was through on goal, before the Rhyl gloveman brought the ex-Irish International down in the box, for a spot-kick which Byrne converted convincingly.
Worse was to come for the hosts as Byrne whipped in a dangerous free-kick and the tall Jason McGuinness headed in a third within a five minute spell without even a challenge from a Rhyl defender. Head coach Alan Bickerstaff would have been very disappointed with his defence that fell asleep during that spell, and all three goals could have easily been avoided.
It was certainly a test of character for Rhyl and in Mark Connolly, the Welsh side have a player with a 'Never Say Die' attitude, which makes him a crowd favourite and shows why the club are so desperate to hold on to him. The tenacious midfielder struck back for the Principality Welsh Premier side with two goals. The first was a delightful free-kick from 25 metres and it left ex-Swansea City 'keeper Brian Murphy glued to the floor, whilst his brace, just moments later came following another free-kick into the box and the ex-Bangor City man pressurised Murphy into a mistake before prodding home with aplomb.
The jubilation for the home fans was short-lived though as former Leeds Utd youngster Singh - who is on the Transfer List at Bohs - added a fourth first half goal almost straight from the restart, leaving both sides to meander through a goalless second period, although Byrne went the closest by hitting the bar for the visitors and skipper Horan missed a glorious chance at the far-post from a deep corner.
Rhyl: John Gann, Paul O'Neill, James Brewerton, Carl Ruffer, George Horan, Craig Jones, Gareth Wilson, Mark Connolly (Craig Garside 80), Chris Roberts (Jimmy Kelly 63), Marc Lloyd Williams, Gary Powell.
Subs not used: Greg Stones, Tom Roberts, Matthew Holt.
Goals: Connolly 37, 41.
Bohemians: Brian Murphy, Owen Heary (Thomas Heary 63), Kevin Hunt, Ken Oman, Mark Rossiter, Harpal Singh, Jason McGuinness, Stephen O'Donnell, Glen Crowe (Darren Mansaram 76), John Paul Kelly (Michael McGinlay 42), Jason Byrne.
Subs not used: Chris Konopka, Neale Fenn, Chris Turner.
Goals: O'Donnell 29, Byrne 30 (pen), McGuinness 34, Singh 45.
Att: 1,453
Referee: Alexey Kuleakov (Belarus)
