Dundalk 1
St Patrick’s Athletic 4
Matty Smith scored twice to help St Patrick’s Athletic to a comprehensive victory over Dundalk at Oriel Park. It was a statement win that keeps the Inchicore outfit within three points of leaders Shamrock Rovers.
Having fallen to defeat in Tallaght nine days earlier, Stephen O’Donnell’s team bounced back in exceptional fashion, but Dundalk now sit just two points ahead of resurgent Waterford, albeit with games in hand.
On loan Reading striker Nahum Melvin-Lambert and Chris Forrester got the visitors other goals, rendering Patrick Hoban’s first-half reply little consolation.
After their excellent result against Eredivisie opponents Vitesse Arnhem in midweek, Vinny Perth’s team crashed back to earth with this result. As important as Europe is to clubs in this country, Dundalk’s packed schedule does nothing for a team striving to find consistency in a campaign where their form has fluctuated wildly.
Melvin-Lambert scored his second St Pat’s goal for the opener. He finished after Alessio Abibi saved John Mountney’s fiercely-struck shot.
Hoban’s close range equaliser - finishing a counter-attack move engineered by Patrick McEleney and Michael Duffy – wasn’t enough to see Dundalk to the break on terms. Scottish forward Smith beat Abibi at his near post shortly before the interval.
The Italian-born Albanian goalkeeper’s nightmare day was not complete by a long shot. He needlessly barged over substitute Billy King before being beaten by Forrester’s penalty. Sam Stanton’s mistake then led to Smith’s second late on.
Chance
Sean Murray squandered a chance to bring Dundalk back into the game and attentions turned back to the visit of Vitesse to Tallaght Stadium on Thursday well before the final whistle was blown.
“With all due respect to Pat’s, they are where they are and deservedly so, but we beat ourselves today,” Perth said.
In contrast, St Pats’ Alan Mathews was full of praise for the players who reignited their title charge.
“It was very important that we got back on the horse after the Rovers game when we were disappointed with a lot of aspects of our play. We’re in a good space. Nothing’s going to be sorted now, but it was important that we won the next game after being beaten last week.
DUNDALK: Abibi; Jurkovskis (Nattestad, 75), Dummigan, Boyle, Leahy; Sloggett (Stanton, 46), Murray; McEleney (Jeongwoo, 87), Patching (McMillan, 70), Duffy (Zahibo, 87); Hoban.
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Jaros; Mountney (Bone, 52), Desmond, Barrett, Bermingham; Lewis, Forrester (Lennon, 79), McCormack, McClelland; Smith, Melvin-Lambert (King, 66).
Referee: Rob Harvey (Dublin).
