Bohs edge past UCD to maintain great start

Paddy Kirk and Ali Coote delivered quick-fire second-half goals as Bohemians had to come from behind against bottom side UCD at Dalymount Park to maintain their terrific start to the season.

A fifth victory from six games stretches the Gypsies' lead at the top of the table to three points ahead of Derry City - and a staggering 10 points above arch-rivals Shamrock Rovers who they meet in their next home game on 7 April.

Forced into a late change due to skipper Jordan Flores crying off in the warm-up, to be replaced by James McManus, Bohemians worked the game's first promising opening on 11 minutes.

Following up to a dozen passes, Coote's cross deflected back to Grant Horton with the right-back skying his shot over the top when he might have hit the target.

A minute later Dalymount was stunned into silence when UCD stole the lead.

Adam Wells dinked a clever ball down the left for the run of Danu Kinsella-Bishop.

The College striker skipped beyond Krystian Nowak to seemingly catch James Talbot unawares as his cross shot went in off the far post.

UCD goalkeeper Kian Moore was sharply off his line to punch a Declan McDaid cross off the head of Jonathan Afolabi as Bohs looked for an immediate response.

But further negligent defending back at the other end might have been punished again on 16 minutes.

Dara Keane ghosted in behind from Ciaran Behan’s free kick, but just failed to get a decent contact with the ball which dropped into Talbot’s grateful grasp.

With Bohemians still a little rattled at the back, Nowak had to make a brave block as Kinsella-Bishop got turned to shoot onto a Behan knock down from Alex Nolan’s deep cross.

Afolabi thought he had levelled on 32 minutes only for his 'goal’ to be ruled out as assistant referee Michelle