Credit:
Bohemians 1 - 0 Drogheda United
- Frankie Lally
- Mon, May 03 2010
Ruaidhri Higgins was the Bohemians hero as he headed home a 90th minute winner to give Bohs a 1-0 win over Drogheda United at Dalymount Park on Monday night.
Raffaele Cretaro proved to be an inspired substitution yet again as it was his cross that led to the goal. He went by three Drogheda defenders before delivering a perfect cross to an unmarked Higgins, who made no mistake with a powerful header.
Bohs started well and almost took the lead straight from kick-off. Killian Brennan played in striker Paddy Madden, but his shot from an acute angle went high and wide over Paul Skinner's crossbar.
Bohs have been on a poor run of form of late, collecting just four
points from their last five league games and manager Pat Fenlon was
certainly looking for a response from his players, putting out a very
offensive line-up.
Fenlon's men came close again four minutes later. Brian Shelley
went on a surging run from defence, eventually laying the ball off to
Jason Byrne, who passed to Madden, but his effort was blocked by a
lunging Jamie Harris.
Alan Matthews' men had their first chance of the game mid-way through
the first half. A scramble in the Bohs box led to the ball falling to
Brian King but his shot was bravely blocked by Shelley.
Drogheda then had the best chance of the first half when Paul Crowley,
who is still wearing a face mask following his injury he picked up
against Dundalk, volleyed just wide following an out-swinging corner
from winger, King.
Bohs pressed hard for a goal in the first half, coming close several
times. The Gypsies looked dangerous from set-pieces with Jason
McGuinness, Shelley and Madden all going close.
Madden's chance was probably the best of the three and the 20-year-old
was unlucky not to put his team in front. Brennan's free-kick found
Madden unmarked at the back post but his header was tipped over by
Skinner.
Much to Pat Fenlon's dismay, Bohs were denied a penalty on the stroke
of half-time. It appeared Crowley had handled inside the Bohs box, but
protests were waved away by referee Richie Winter.
Bohs re-emerged at half-time looking to throw everything at Drogheda
in search of a goal. Madden came close in the 61st minute, when his
shot from 25-yards brushed past Skinner's right-hand post.
Cretaro was introduced in the second half in search of a goal and he
nearly got it the 75th minute when Brennan's cross was flicked on by
Byrne but the new fans favourite drilled his shot straight at Skinner.
However Cretaro had a big part to play in the winner. It was his inch
perfect cross that found Higgins unmarked inside the box, much to the
relief of Fenlon and the rest of the Bohs fans.
The defeat makes it five defeats from five for Drogheda while the win
pushes Bohs into fourth, just six points behind leaders Dundalk, with
the Gypsies also having a game in hand.
Bohemians: B.Murphy, Rossiter (A.Murphy 47), Powell, McGuinness,
Shelley, Greene (Cretaro 66), Higgins, Keegan, Brennan, Madden(Quigley 77), Byrne
Unused substitutes: O'Connor, Cronin
Drogheda United: Skinner, Treacy, Kendrick, McNally, Harris, Crowley,
O'Connor, B.McGill Daly, King, Smyth ( Fitzpatrick 63)
Unused substitutes: P.Murphy, D.Brennan, E.McGill, R.Brennan
Referee: R.Winter
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Brian Shelley
About Frankie Lally
Frankie Lally writes for a number of publications. You can contact Frankie on Twitter at @FrankieLally
