Drogheda United 0
Bohemians 1
PJ Murray reports from United Park
A DAN BYRNE goal late in the second half was enough to give Bohemians all three points in a highly entertaining affair at United Park this afternoon.
It was a game of contrasting halves as Bohs started much brighter. With Dinny Corcoran sidelined for a few weeks, Paddy Kavanagh was selected up front in a 4-5-1 and he forced a smart save from Stephen McGuiness with four minutes played.
Chances were at a premium, with Drogheda playing second fiddle for the majority of the opening period. Bohs, however, were fortunate to keep 11 players on the pitch as Robert Cornwall was shown a yellow card for dragging down Stephen Elliott, before repeating the act two minutes later with Paul Tuite waving play on.
The Gypsies almost took the lead midway through the half. Ian Morris launched a throw into the box which was missed by everyone but Colm Deasy managed to clear off the line with Kavanagh lurking.
Shane Supple was quick off his line to close down an Elliott shot inside the first 60 seconds of the second half. McGuinness then denied Derek Pender before saving with his feet from Jamie Doyle.
Sean Brennan could have opened the scoring for the hosts when Thornton cut the ball back to the fellow Drogheda native but he took one touch too many before being forced wide in the box.
Bohs took the lead with 15 minutes remaining when a coming-together between Kaleem Simon and Gareth McCaffrey saw the visitors awarded a soft free. Lorcan Fitzgerald’s delivery was headed past McGuinness by Byrne to seal all three points.
DROGHEDA UNITED: McGuinness, Deasy, Gallagher, McGuigan, Dunne, Sean Brennan, Thornton, Hyland (McEvoy, 81), McCaffrey, Gavin Brennan, Elliott (Byrne, 81).
BOHEMIANS: Supple, Fitzgerald, Cornwall, Byrne, Pender, Kavanagh, Poynton (Gannon, 78), Ward (Nolan, 90), Morris (Brennan, 58), Simon, Doyle.
Referee: Paul Tuite