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up the on-rushing Derek Pender whose stinging drive was superbly held by McGuinness, with Doyle poised for a simple tap-in had the keeper spilled the ball.

Dunne threw his body on the line to block a Poynton effort, and a minute later McGuinness had to make another excellent save from Doyle after the striker dispossessed Jake Hyland 30 yards from goal.

Back came Drogheda and Thornton earned a free just outside the box, but Gavin Brennan’s kick struck the head of Poynton in the Bohemians wall.

Moments later the Boynesiders were guilty of more wastefulness in front of goal. Thornton did well to cut the ball back from close to the byeline, and as a yawning gap appeared in the Bohs defence close to the penalty spot, the perfectly positioned Sean Brennan looked poised to score.

However, for some reason he opted to take a touch and that took him wide of the goal where the visitors were able to shepherd him away from danger.

Drogheda kept their foot collectively on the pedal, though, and McCaffrey’s great wing play earned him a glimpse of goal, only to shoot straight at Supple.

There was more controversy on 74 minutes when Colm Deasy’s deep cross from the right looked tailor-made for Thornton. As he set himself for a header, however, the veteran midfielder seemed to be bundled over by Pender, but referee Tuite was unconvinced and play continued.

It was a crucial moment in the game, for barely 60 seconds later Bohemians got the all-important goal. Deasy and Kaleem Simon tussled hard for a loose ball near and this time Mr Tuite awarded Bohemians a dubious free kick out on the left, near the stand.

Fitzgerald swung the ball in and Dan Byrne, positioned near the penalty spot, stooped to gain half a yard on his marker and float a header past a static McGuinness.

It was a soft goal in every respect, and a hammer blow for Drogheda.

Pete Mahon responded by emptying his subs bench, but the Boynesiders only created one half-chance to get back on level terms, with Elliott seeing his shot blocked by a defender after being released by McCaffrey.

At the other end McGuinness was once more into action to keep out a Keith Ward piledriver, but on the balance of play Drogheda should have earned something from this game.

Instead, they go into Friday’s Louth derby on the back of four successive defeats and it looks like the most daunting of tasks to come back from Oriel Park with a result. FOUR defeats on the bounce is hardly the best preparation for a derby against the reigning League champions, but Sean Thornton insists Drogheda United can put it up to Dundalk at Oriel Park on Friday.

The Lilywhites are themselves in the middle of a mini-slump, having lost two of their last three games, and the veteran midfielder feels there is a chink of opportunity - but only if they can address their shortcomings in front of goal.

‘The bookies will have it as a home banker,’ he agreed, ‘and over the last few years they’ve had the upper hand on us, but we’re stronger than we were two years ago and I don’t think they’re as strong as they were last season.

‘Anything can happen in a derby and we’re actually playing on a decent surface, and we’ll be confident going into the game.

‘They’re under a bit of pressure. I knew they weren’t going to be as strong this year. It’s as simple as, if you let your best players go you’re not going to be as good, and they’re not players you can replace that easily in this league.’

The Louth neighbours didn’t clash last year as Drogheda were in the First Division, so Thornton’s most recent taste of the derby was the harrowing 6-0 defeat in September 2015 shortly before their relegation was confirmed.

‘It’s a big occasion and most of the lads don’t know what it’s about until they see it on Friday,’ he summised.