League Report: Bohemians 1 - 0 Drogheda United

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Rónán MacNamara reports from Dalymount Park

Bohemians have climbed into second place after they picked up their third straight league win with a narrow 1-0 victory over Drogheda United on Friday night.

James Akintunde’s finish in the fifteenth minute was enough to separate the sides and give Alan Reynolds his fourth win in five games since replacing Declan Devine while Drogheda’s four match unbeaten run has come to an end, and they remain in the relegation playoff spot.

It’s three wins in the space of seven days for Bohs who have gone from languishing in eighth place to within two points of leaders Shelbourne.

Alan Reynolds made six changes from the side who beat Dundalk on Monday night with a new front three of Akintunde, Dayle Rooney and Declan McDaid standing out on this occasion for the hosts.

Bohemians didn't have to work hard for their opportunities with careless play from Drogheda, presenting them with first half chances.

The hosts profited on some poor defending down the Drogheda left, the fervent Luke Matheson afforded two bites of the cherry before pulling the ball back for the onrushing Akintunde to slot home from seven yards.

It took Bohs just fifteen minutes to punish Drogs with the energetic Luke Matheson pulling the ball back for Akintunde to notch his fourth goal of the campaign.

Drogheda had a couple of nearly moments on the counter attack and their best chance fell to Ryan Brennan who’s acrobatic effort was scooped over the bar after some ping pong in the penalty area.

The visitors failed to deal with the resulting goal kick and were fortunate that Rooney’s through ball to McDaid was a smidge too strong as the Scot pulled his shot narrowly wide of Jethren Barr’s far post.

Drogheda manager Kevin Doherty was booked for his remonstrations after he felt Aboubakar Keita should have been sent off for two yellows. It was Doherty’s fourth booking of the season.

McDaid and Rooney provided some great combination play on the edge of the area before Rooney dragged an effort wide soon after the interval.

Just before the hour mark, McDaid forced Barr into a smart save low to his right.

Substitute Frantz Pierrot scored his first goal for Drogheda last week and he was denied a smart second of the campaign and an equaliser on the night by Kacper Chorazka after Oisin Gallagher found the striker with a lobbed ball over the top.

Substitute Filip Piczcek could have put the game beyond doubt but while one on one with Hayden Cann their tussle saw him almost chip Barr with a miss hit shot on his left after cutting back in.

Drogheda substitute Killian Cailloce had a header cleared off the line with his first touch with ten minutes remaining.

Chorazka who went down for his customary pressure relieving treatment recovered to save low at his near post from Pierrot as the game entered six minutes of added time.

Bohemians: Kacper Chorazka; Aboubacar Keita, Patrick Kirk, Luke Matheson, Jevon Mills (Cian Byrne 46); Jordan Flores, Adam McDonnell (James Clarke 89), James McManus (Brian McManus 75); Oluwaseun Akintunde (Dylan Connolly 68), Declan McDaid (Filip Piszczek 68), Dayle Rooney.

Subs not used: James Talbot, Michael Lilander, Martin Miller, Daniel Grant.

Booked: Aboubacar Keita (42).

Drogheda United: Jethren Barr; Hayden Cann, Conor Kane (David Webster 82); Warren Davis (Aaron McNally 58), Gary Deegan, Adam Foley, Oisin Gallagher, Luke Heeney (Killian Cailloce 82), Jack Keaney, Darragh Markey (Matthew O’Brien 58); Ryan Brennan.

Subs not used: Finn Moore, Zishim Bawa, James Byrne, Emre Topcu, Frantz Pierrot.

Booked: Luke Heeney (71).

Referee: Gavin Colfer

Attendance: 4305

extratime.com Player of the Match: Dayle Rooney (Bohemians)

League Report: Wexford 2 - 3 UCD https://t.co/b9kiA4zXCvpic.twitter.com/nXCg9I6CFB

— extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) April 19, 2024