Bohemians 1 Drogheda United 1
Dean Williams bagged an 84th-minute goal at Dalymount Park last night to earn Drogheda United a share of the spoils with Bohemians.
Despite their contrasting fortunes in last Monday’s round of fixtures — Bohs suffered defeat to St Patrick’s Athletic, while Drogheda recorded a shock win over champions Shamrock Rovers — it was the hosts who had much the better of the opening period.
Dawson Devoy and Ali Coote both fired marginally off target, before the Gypsies eventually claimed a breakthrough goal on the stroke of 45 minutes. Following excellent link-up play between Coote and Junior Ogedi-Ukozwe, Jordan Flores found himself in space and drilled a superb shot to the bottom right-hand corner of the net.
Although Drogheda had offered precious little in attack during the first half, they served notice of their potential when Darragh Nugent and Seán Roughan forced fine saves out of Bohs netminder James Talbot either side of the third-quarter mark.
The Gypsies had a number of opportunities to extend their lead at the opposite end and were left to rue these missed chances when Drogheda substitute Williams lifted the ball over the advancing Talbot for a dramatic equaliser six minutes from time.
BOHEMIANS: Talbot; Murphy, Doherty, Kelly, Wilson (Feely, 26 mins; Finnerty, 59 mins); Flores, Levingston; Coote (Mallon, 89 mins), Devoy, Burt; Ogedi-Ukozwe (Omochere, 59 mins).
DROGHEDA UNITED: Long; Heeney, Cowan (Poynton, 46 mins), Roughan, Weir; Clarke (Markey, 75 mins), Deegan; Grimes (Brennan, 67 mins), Nugent (Foley, 67 mins), Rooney; Lyons (Williams, 57 mins).
Referee: S Grant (Wexford).