Drogheda United 1-0 Bohemians
WHEN A TEAM on the back of a five game losing streak host a side without a league win in six attempts, you’d expect something would have to give.
For 70 minutes at United Park, it seemed like this crucial match would end with neither side wholly satisfied with their lot.
That was until Carl Walshe’s second half strike settled this game in Drogheda United’s favour. The winger’s second of the season is arguably their most crucial, ending a rot that extended to six losses including last week’s league cup defeat.
If Owen Heary had to contend with suggestions Bohemians were drawing too many games this season, his latest issue might surround how his side have been drawing blanks of late.
With just two league wins now in 13 outings, games against UCD and Drogheda United are the sort of games you need to find the back of the net in at the very least.
There was no lack of energy or endeavour at United Park as Bohs looked to shake off their tag as draw specialists and more pressingly, the home side attempted to end that losing streak.
Whilst neither side could lay claim to dominating possession throughout a first half that swung this way and that, the crowd in Drogheda were denied a brace of early goals by some last gasp defending and the width of a post.
First, a long ball forward was contested by Drogheda ‘keeper Dave Ryan and Paddy Kavanagh. The Bohs man steered his header back into the path of Karl Moore but with Ryan beaten, his shot was cleared off the line by Daire Doyle.
Moments later, the home side sprung Bohs’ offside trap and when Cathal Brady rounded Dean Delaney, his effort trickled off back off the far post and was cleared to safety.
Thereafter goalscoring opportunities were at a premium and only when Anto Murphy curled in a dipping effort in the 35th minute, one which had Ryan stretching to tip over, did the deadlock look like being broken. From the resulting corner, Dave Mulcahy beat Doyle in the air and bed the ball to Jason Byrne. Inexplicably, he contrived to put over from four yards.
The second half was a similar affair with two Byrne headers and a speculative Eric Foley effort for Drogheda the isolated incidents where a goal seemed likely.
That was until Walshe capatilised on a loose pass across the back four from Steven Beattie. The youngster held off Darragh Traynor before firing low past Delaney.
DROGHEDA UNITED: David Ryan, Michael Daly, Shane Grimes, Paul Crowley [C], Cathal Brady (Declan O’Brien, 12), Gavan Holohan, Gary O’Neill, Ciaran McGuigan, Carl Walshe, Daire Doyle, Eric Foley.
Substitutes: Dylan Connolly, Paul Andrews, Declan O’Brien, Philly Hughes, Dominic Mahon, Sean O’Connor, Roy Kierans.
BOHEMIANS: Dean Delaney, Stephen Beattie, Aidan Price, Dan Byrne, Derek Pender (Darragh Reynor, 21), Anto Murphy (Kevin Devaney, 73) , Dave Mulcahy [C], Ryan McEvoy (Craig Walsh, 80), Jason Byrne, Patrick Kavanagh, Karl Moore.
Substitutes: Gavin Moore, Eoin Wearen, Darragh Reynor, Stephen Traynor, Craig Walsh, Jake Hyland, Kevin Devaney.
Ref: Robert Harvey.