League Report: Drogheda United 0 - 2 Bohemians

Ronan MacNamara reports from Weavers Park

Bohemians moved five points clear at the summit of the Premier Division as they ground out a battling 2-0 win away to Drogheda United.

Paddy Kirk’s fine individual effort put Bohs ahead in a turgid affair at Weavers Park as he became Bohemians twelfth different goal scorer in just eleven league games.

Substitute Declan McDaid made sure of the win in the 94^th minute as he capitalised on a Colin McCabe howler in what was a rare foray forward for the visitors in the second half.

It’s now three successive clean sheets for Declan Devine’s charges on their travels as they once again showed their ability to chisel out results in another clear illustration of their rapid improvement from last season.

After an uneventful opening, Drogheda will feel they should have opened the scoring after 13 minutes. Lincoln loanee Freddie Draper saw a header superbly saved by James Talbot from close range in what was the best chance of the half.

The teenager has only hit the net once this term – coming in the corresponding fixture at Dalymount Park.

The game lacked intensity and it was reflected in the shoddy defending from Drogheda as Kirk opened the scoring at a canter.

The move began with some neat play around the D from the Bohs midfield and after Colin McCabe parried a James Clarke effort, Kirk chopped back inside and sauntered through the defence unchallenged and curled the ball into the far corner on his right foot.

The remainder of the half was rather forgettable with Dayle Rooney spurning a decent chance after latching onto a ball over the top of the Bohemians back four while the visitors had a couple of half chances through Kirk and John O’Sullivan.

After a tepid opening period, Kevin Doherty’s side emerged from the half time changing room rejuvenated and started the second half well. Darragh Markey shot straight at Talbot before Draper stung his palms with a thumping volley after a mix up in the Bohs defence.

Despite the result, it was the Boynesiders who created the best chances in the game. Ryan Brennan will wonder how he missed the target from close range with a third of the game remaining.

Markey did superbly to manufacture and opening with some dancing feet and after sliding the ball across the box, Brennan on the slide, skewed his effort over with the goal gaping. Moments later Rooney whipped a wicked ball across the six-yard box. Kevin Doherty almost dropped to his knees on the sideline as the ball agonisingly evaded everyone in claret and blue.

Drogheda huffed and puffed in a second half they dominated but were unable to find the breakthrough that would have given them a well-earned share of the spoils.

Dreams of a late equaliser turned into a nightmare as deep into stoppage time McCabe came dashing out to intercept a rather innocuous ball over the top, only to take a wild swipe at the ball and miss it completely allowing McDaid to latch on to it and turn home from a narrow angle.

Drogheda United: Colin McCabe; Emmanuel Adegboyega, Elicha Ahiu (Michael Leddy 76), Jarlath Jones (Luke Heeney 76), Conor Keeley; Ryan Brennan, Gary Deegan, Dylan Grimes (Aaron McNally 71), Darragh Markey (Emre Topcu 76), Dayle Rooney; Freddie Draper.

Subs not used: Andrew Wogan, Fiachra Pagel, Evan Weir, Matthew O'Brien.

Booked: Emmanuel Adegboyega (22), Elicha Ahiu (40).

 

Bohemians: James Talbot; Grant Horton, Patrick Kirk, Krystian Nowak, Kacper Radkowski; Keith Buckley, James Clarke (Kris Twardek 65), Dylan Connolly (Declan McDaid 77), Adam McDonnell; Jonathan Afolabi (Dean Williams 71), John O'Sullivan (James McManus 71).

Subs not used: Luke Dennison, Drew Baker, Jay Benn, Daniel McGrath, Chris Lotefa.

 

Referee: Sean Grant

Attendance: 2175

extratime.com Player of the Match: Paddy Kirk (Bohemians).