- Gerard Grimes
- Wed, Jan 29 2020
Gerard Grimes reports from United Park
A second-half brace from 15-year-old Evan Ferguson saw Bohemians win the inaugural Vincent Hoey Perpetual Trophy with a 4-2 win over Drogheda United at United Park.
Andre Wright had twice put the visitors in front in the first half but each team Drogheda struck back, with goals from Jordan Ademayo and Stephen Meaney leaving things all-square at the break.
Ferguson, a native of nearby Bettystown, put Bohs in front for a third time six minutes after the break before sealing the win with the final kick of the game.
Bohs hit the front with only 11 minutes on the clock when a neat move saw Danny Mandroiu find Conor Levingston inside the box.
The midfielder got the ball out of his feet quick, found the unmarked Wright who slotted the ball into the far corner.
Drogheda pressed for an equaliser as first James Clarke and then Adeyemo, with a snapshot, had efforts held well by Talbot.
The equaliser came on 27 minutes after brilliant play from Sean Brennan, bringing the ball forward from midfield before finding Adeyemo through a cluster of players.
The 19-year-old striker made no mistake firing into the far corner on the turn to score his second goal in two pre-season games.
Mandroiu was brilliant on the night for Keith Long’s side and saw a superb 25-yard effort take a touch on the way through, enough to take the ball just over David Odumoso’s crossbar.
Drogheda had a penalty appeal waved away three minutes later as Adeyemo was again in on goal and went to ground under the challenge of a defender.
A Prendergast header from a corner and a deflected strike from Bermingham against his former side were next to test Talbot but it was the visitors who would find the third goal of the game.
Brilliant vision from Mandroiu saw him split the Drogheda defence with a through ball, finding Wright, who took a touch and finished under Odumosu to net his and Bohs’ second of the evening.
Drogheda levelled less than two minutes later as Brandon Bermingham, now on the right wing, saw his low strike parried by James Talbot, allowing quickest to react Meaney to finish from close range.
Long’s side hit the front for the third time six minutes into the second half as JJ Lunney’s cut back from the right was met by 15-year-old Ferguson at the back post.
Ferguson, who was introduced as a first half substitute for the injured Danny Grant, tapped in from two yards.
With Bohs also playing Bray in a behind closed doors friendly in Abbotstown, Drogheda had a significantly bigger bench and began to empty it after conceding for a third time.
Those subs were immediately involved as Lyons’ cutback was almost turned into his own net by Rob Cornwall before a second delivery was just out of Adam Wixted’s reach.
Mark Doyle then fired into the side netting as he looked to round Talbot before another Lyons long-range effort was off-target.
Mandroiu looked set to seal the game with 15 minutes left, weaving his way through a number of challenges only to have the ball taken from his feet as he went to shoot by a last ditch Mark Hughes tackle.
The game was sealed with the final kick of the game though as Ferguson this time found space inside the box and picked his spot in the far corner.
Drogheda United: David Odumoso (Ross Treacy 72); Luke Heeney, Derek Prendergast (Kevin Mohammad 72), Jack Tuite, Ryan O’Shea (Conor Kane 55); Richie O’Farrell (Mark Hughes 46), Sean Brennan (C) (Frank Cabraley 72), James Clarke; Stephen Meaney (Adam Wixted 55), Brandon Bermingham (Mark Doyle 55), Jordan Adeyemo (Chris Lyons 55).
Subs not used: Jack McCarthy (gk).
Booked: None.
Bohemians: James Talbot; Michael Barker, Rob Cornwall (C) (Gavin O’Brien 76), Dan Casey, Anto Breslin; Conor Levingston (Jamie Mullins 83), Luke Wade-Slater; JJ Lunney, Danny Mandroiu, Danny Grant (Evan Ferguson 36); Andre Wright.
Subs not used: Jamie Cleary (gk).
Booked: None.
Attendance: 200 (estimate).
Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Evan Ferguson (Bohemians).
