National League/Bohemians 0; Drogheda United 1: Bohemians spurned the chance to go second in the table with a shaky performance at Dalymount Park last night. In fairness to Drogheda United they deserved the victory that moves them up to fourth in the table.
They seemed to have wasted all their meaningful chances until, with two minutes to go, substitutes David Freeman and Barry Molloy combined to send Bohemians to their first defeat of the season. The latter finishing from close range.
Short of seven regulars, most notably Glen Crowe, Bohemians struggled to really impose their game on the visitors in an error-ridden opening 45 minutes.
Although they dominated possession, and created all the significant opportunities, they failed in front of goal in the first-half.
Crowe's replacement, Bobby Doyle, did have the ball in the back of the net after 12 minutes but the linesman flag put a quick end to his celebrations. It was a pity, as the smart finish from a tight angle deserved a reward. The change evolved out of Gary Rogers inability to hold a Fergal Harkin shot.
Due to injuries to both James Keddy and Dave Morrison that Stephen Kenny was forced to select under-19 international striker Stephen Ward on the left wing.
Not much went for him but he looks like a serious prospect for the future, up front though.
Another of Kenny's young recruits, Stephen Rice, almost broke the deadlock three minutes before the break when his shot fizzed inches wide after a clever back-heal from Harkin. Their only other genuine first-half chance was a Kevin Hunt header that drifted wide.
United forward Mark Rooney did force Matt Gregg into two routine stops before the break as Paul Doolin's men began to smell the blood of the wounded Bohemians.
Immediately after the re-start John Lester fired into the side netting from close range. The chances didn't dry up either as Andy Myler twice failed to find the target.
As they are wont to do Bohemians came back into it. Damian Lynch's hanging cross was well met by Doyle at the near post only for Gary Rogers to be equal to the header.
Yet that by no means signalled a comeback as United continued to press with Alan Reilly stinging the hands of Gregg before Lynch cleared to safety.
After a miserable opening half the game had suddenly sprung to life.
With 20 minutes remaining Bobby Ryan was flung into the action and immediately began to make inroads down the right flank.
With 10 minutes remaining, the winger gifted Doyle with a chance to seal the points but he headed over.
They spent the final minutes in a shaky retreat and Drogheda eventually made them pay with the late strike from Molloy.
BOHEMIANS: Gregg, Lynch, Caffrey, McNally, Webb, Harkin (Logan, 91 mins), Hunt, Rice (Ryan, 70 mins), Ward, Doyle, Grant.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Rogers, Sullivan, Gray, O'Connor, Kelly, Lacey, Lester, Reilly, Quinless (Molloy, 77 mins), Rooney (A Lynch, 91 mins), Myler (Freeman, 77 mins).
Referee: I Stokes (Dublin).
