Belfield’s hoodoo is laid to rest by Drogs
DROGHEDA United laid their long-running Belfield bogey to rest in fine style last Friday night as they picked up all three points there for the first time since 2008.
The Boynesiders had just begun the defence of their Premier Division crown under Paul Doolin when they last won at the south Dublin venue - also on a 3-1 scoreline - and this result could prove hugely significant in their attempts to return to the top flight.
Defeat would have left them in fourth place in the table with their title hopes hanging by a thread, but instead it’s now UCD who have it all to do if they are to remain in the title race.
There were times in this entertaining contest when it looked as if the Belfield hoodoo would continue, but a powerful second-half showing turned things around in Drogheda’s favour and they were also indebted to keeper David Odumosu who made a magnificent penalty save at a crucial point in the match.
The young stopper also made a fine intervention in the opening three minutes as he made himself big and managed to block Yousef Mahdy in a one-on-one situation.
But he was almost picking the ball out of the net from the resulting corner as a wicked inswinger to the back post was flicked against the outside of the post by Colm Whelan.
Drogheda’s only chance in the opening quarter stemmed from a free kick awarded for a foul on Mark Doyle by Michael Gallagher, as Jack Hyland’s 25-yard kick grazed the outside of the upright, with UCD keeper Lorcan Healy rooted to the spot.
On the early balance of play, though, you could argue that the Students deserved it when they profited from poor defending to take the lead on 18 minutes.
Drogheda had almost got caught out a couple of times before that as they dithered in the wrong half of the field, and clearly the warnings weren’t heeded as Hyland was dispossessed by a high-pressing home side, and Whelan galloped forward before slotting confidently past Odumosu.
Coming on the back of conceding a couple of other sloppy goals in recent games, Drogheda once again had it all to do, but in fairness they responded and created several decent chances in a good spell coming up to half-time.
Doyle and James Clarke combined well to find Jordan Adeyemo who turned sharply and fired dangerously across the face of goal, and Doyle then got a glancing touch to a Hyland free kick and sent the ball wide when he perhaps should have scored.
A brilliant step-over from Clarke led to another opportunity for Doyle whose shot was deflected wide, and Healy then made a fine save at point-blank range from Adeyemo before denying Clarke moments later.
On 40 minutes it was Doyle through on goal again after great approach work from Conor Kane and Hyland, but this time the Skerries man couldn’t get his angled shot on target and the danger was cleared.
Right at the end of the first half the Drogs could easily have found themselves two goals adrift, though, as an identical corner to the earlier one saw Whelan’s back post header scrambled clear before Paul Doyle volleyed wide from yet another set piece.
With the words of manager Tim Clancy still ringing in their ears, the Boynesiders came out for the second period with renewed vigour and had restored parity within three minutes of the restart.
First, though, they had another escape as Whelan tricked his way past a couple of defenders and flashed a shot narrowly wide of Odumosu’s right-hand post.
The highly-regarded 20-yearold might be having nightmares about that one as barely 60 seconds later James Brown skipped down the right flank and gained half a yard on his marker before dinking a lovely ball into the box. Mark Doyle was simply too quick in body and mind for his marker as he nipped in front of the defender and sent a low volley past Healy for 1-1.
A minute later Drogheda nearly had the lead in brilliant fashion as Adeyemo made a nuisance of himself as he tried to connect with Kane’s cross and the ball ran loose to the late-arriving Clarke who took the ball in his stride before blazing over the bar.
Adeyemo had another effort blocked before he turned provider for the all-important lead goal on 57 minutes. He came out best in a great tussle out on the right with Evan Osam, and teed up Doyle who this time placed the ball in the opposite corner for his eighth goal of the season.
UCD were looking ragged at this stage and Doyle and Richie O’Farrell then combined to set up Kane. The wing back’s shot was parried by Healy and both Adeyemo and Clarke were then denied as the rebound bobbled in the six-yard area.
Mahdy then made a hash of a decent chance to equalise as he was left unmarked from a Liam Kerrigan free kick down the centre but could only loop a header well over Drogheda’s crossbar.
Clancy replaced Adeyemo and Clarke with Bermingham and Meaney and the latter almost scored within 30 seconds of coming on as he rifled a 25-yard shot
With the words of Tim Clancy still ringing in their ears, the Boynesiders came out for the second period with renewed vigour and restored parity within three minutes.
off the butt of the post.
Then it was Bermingham’s turn as he was set up by Doyle and shot narrowly wide.
All Drogheda’s good work looked to have been undone when Whelan was sent tumbling just inside the box and referee Alan Patchell awarded a penalty after consulting with his assistant.
The First Division’s top scorer Mahdy stepped up and struck the ball firmly towards the left corner, but Odumosu guessed correctly and flung himself to his right to palm the ball round the post.
A shot from the resulting corner had to be booted off the line, but after that Drogheda played the game almost exclusively in the
UCD half and could easily have added more goals to their tally.
Subs Bermingham and Meaney both went close from the same attack in the 86th minute and Hugh Douglas had two headed chances from corner kicks.
At one stage Meaney shrugged off two defenders and dribbled from inside his own half right up
to the right corner before winning a corner, using up precious time.
Then, in the final seconds, Meaney popped up on the opposite flank and had a shot blocked by Healy, but Bermingham collected possession from the rebound, cut inside and buried another low shot past the keeper at his near post.