Drogs frustrated by slack concession in loss at Dalymount

BOHEMIANS 1 DROGHEDA UNITED 0

DALYMOUNT Park hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for the Louth teams this season as Drogheda United’s 1-0 defeat on Friday night was preceded by Dundalk’s loss to the Gypsies earlier in the week in Phibsborough by the same scoreline. It was a result which saw Drogheda’s four-game unbeaten run come to an abrupt end.

While the Drogs’ only win this season has come against Bohs, the Dublin outfit are a different prospect under Alan Reynolds. Indeed, the former Waterford assistant manager made six changes for Friday’s clash and they still came away with the desired result.

On the balance of play, though, this season’s draw specialists could have and should have come away with a share of the spoils. The introduction of Frantz Pierott early in the second half really gave the Boynsiders a spark and an injection of creativity which was sadly lacking.

Jethren Barr made one save throughout the 90 minutes, although the shot looked like it was going the far side of the post anyway.

Though, the manner in which Bohs took the lead, on 15 minutes, will leave Doherty frustrated as it was eminently preventable. Drogheda had already conceded two similar goals against Sligo, but Luke Matheson’s cross from the right wing, while initially blocked by Warren Davis, saw James Akintunde drift into the box unmarked to finish low into the far corner from the second cross.

The goal was very much at odds with the game’s opening exchanges as both teams were guilty of sloppy play. With Dalymount bathed in sunlight, the visitors almost capitalised when Gary Deegan stripped Dayle Rooney of possession on the halfway line and released Ryan Brennan with a direct pass but the final shot was lacking.

Rooney, though, was running the show for Bohs and he zipped a pass through to Declan McDaid whose subsequent shot was dragged narrowly wide. As the half wore on, Drogheda came more into the game and Ryan Brennan tried an acrobatic bicycle kick on the six-yard box which just didn’t connect.

Conor Kane saw a free-kick headed just over by Aboubacar Keita just minutes after the defender was carded for a foul on Brennan and then the latter was fouled again resulting in the free, but no second card.

Bohs looked more the likely to score in the second half – Kane put in a brilliant challenge to deny Rooney before Flores headed over from the subsequent corner.

But the introduction of Pierrot around the hour mark changed the momentum of the game. Darragh Markey and Adam Foley both had chances on target but the best opportunity fell to the Haitian on 65 minutes.

Pierott dispossessed Flores, starting the move which would involve Deegan, Foley and Oisín Gallagher who put a ball over the top for the forward who brilliantly took the ball down but his shot was straight at Kacper Chorazka.

Bohs still looked dangerous but only when Drogheda switched off. A misplaced pass by Jack Keaney gifted Filip Piszczek an opportunity and his effort, which looked to be sailing wide, was stopped by Barr at his near post.

Killian Cailloce was brought on with 11 minutes remaining and he had a header cleared off the line as Drogheda were finishing strongly. Pierott would have one more effort on 90 minutes but Drogheda would finish the game on the wrong side of a 1-0 scoreline.

BOHEMIANS:

Kacper Chorazka 7; Luke Matheson 7, Jevon Mills 6 (Cian Byrne 45, 6), Aboubacar Keita 7, Paddy Kirk 6; James McManus 7 (Brian McManus, 75’ 5) Jordan Flores 7; Declan McDaid 6 (Dylan Connolly 68, 5), Adam McDonnell 7 (James Clarke 87), Dayle Rooney 8; James Akintunde 7 (Filip Piszczek 68, 5)

DROGHEDA UNITED:

Jethren Barr 6; Luke Heeney 6 (Killian Cailloce 79, 5), Hayden Cann 6, Jack Keaney 6, Conor Kane 6 (David Webster 79, 5); Gary Deegan 7, Oisín Gallagher 6; Adam Foley 6, Darragh Markey 6 (Matthew O’Brien 66, 5), Warren Davis 5 (Aaron McNally 58, 5); Ryan Brennan 6 (Frantz Pierrot 58, 7).

REFEREE: Gavin Colfer (Wicklow).