League Report: Bohemians 4 - 2 Drogheda United

Macdara Ferris reports from Dalymount Park

Bohemians moved to within two points of the top of the table on a dramatic night in Dalymount Park after a 4-2 win over ten man Drogheda United.

Once again Jonathan Afolabi was central to the outcome as he scored a brace to bring his tally for the league campaign into double digits.

There was an awful lot packed into the first 45 minutes of the game in Dalymount.

There were three goals – one inside 100 seconds and another three minutes into first half injury time - two disallowed goals, a straight red card for Drogheda United’s Evan Weir and an announcement over the PA if another object was directed towards the assistant referee from the crowd the match would be abandoned.

Kacper Radkowski had put Bohs a goal up early in the game scoring his first for the club. He peeled away at the back post to superbly side foot volley home Jordan Flores’ corner from the right in just the second minute of the match.

The visitors created a rake of chances after that early setback, with Kyle Robinson hitting the butt of the post in the ninth minute. He did really well to hold the ball up, turn James McManus before seeing his shot beat James Talbot but not the post.

Rooney and Robinson went close soon after but they couldn’t make that initial breakthrough.

In the 36^th minute, the game was level as, similar to the Bohs goal, a defender was given way too much space in the opposition penalty area. Weir came rushing in to head home Dayle Rooney’s centre from the left.

Weir lasted only three more minutes on the pitch though as, when he came sliding in with a scything challenge on Dylan Connolly, he got a straight red card from referee Rob Hennessy much to the delight of the Bohs faithful.

The home supporters weren’t happy with the Clare official though as he ruled out two goals towards the end of the half. The first saw Kukulowicz head home but it was ruled out for an apparent push and then Kris Twardek also found the back of the net only to have it chalked off.

The offside flag had gone up – probably a bit harshly - with Connolly looking to have obscured Wogan’s vision of Twardek’s shot.

The game then had a lengthy delay after the assistant referee was hit with an object from the crowd. An announcement was made over the Dalymount PA that if there was a repeat the game would be abandoned.

The first half drama wasn’t over though as Afolabi scored in injury time. Wogan could only push out McManus’ shot into the path of the in-form striker and he made no mistake to make it 2-1 at the break.

There wasn’t quite the helter-skelter pace of the first half when the game restarted. Declan Devine made two changes at half-time with Danny Grant coming on in place of Connolly who was on a card. Cian Byrne also came on with Ali Coote joining on the pitch before the hour mark.

The Boynesiders sat back and let Bohs have the ball but they looked to break when they could with Dayle Rooney and Darragh Markey particularly effective.

Robinson then had two chances as Bohs lived life on the edge. From a few kick, Conor Keeley’s header came across to Kyle Robinson but with the ball dropping behind him he couldn’t direct on the Bohs goal. The Drogs striker than arrowed in on goal from the left with his effort just flying by the frame of the goal.

Markey was the provider for the equaliser in the 75^th minute with a one-two off sub Warren Davis and a slide rule pass across the six yard box for Jamie Egan to equalise.

The game was just level for two more minutes as Wogan clattered Grant in the box as he ran onto a long diagonal ball. Afolabi made no mistake from the penalty spot to score his ninth goal in just seven matches.

The deserved win for Bohs was wrapped up five minute from time when James Clarke came onto a clearance on the edge of the box and slotted home the fourth for the Gypsies to sent the Bohs faithful home very happy.

Bohemians: James Talbot; Bartlomiej Kukulowicz (Patrick Kirk 78), Krystian Nowak (Cian Byrne h/t), Kacper Radkowski, Jordan Flores; Keith Buckley, James McManus (Ali Coote 60); Dylan Connolly Connolly (Daniel Grant h/t), James Clarke, Kris Twardek (John O'Sullivan 83); Jonathan Afolabi.
Subs not used: Luke Dennison, Louie Holzman, Adam McDonnell, James Akintunde.
Booked: Dylan Connolly (21).

Drogheda United: Andrew Wogan; Aaron McNally, Jamie Egan, Conor Keeley, Evan Weir; Gary Deegan, Luke Heeney (Conor Kane 45); Adam Foley (Michael Leddy 85), Darragh Markey, Dayle Rooney; Kyle Robinson (Warren Davis 73).
Subs not used: Colin McCabe, Jarlath Jones, Luke Wade-Slater, Darragh Noone, Matthew O'Brien, Emre Topcu.
Booked: Luke Heeney (22), Dayle Rooney (45), Andrew Wogan (75).
Sent off: Evan Weir (39).

Referee: Rob Hennessy.
Attendance: 4,322
extratime.com Player of the Match: James Clarke (Bohemians)