Bohemians keep up the pressure

LEAGUE OF IRELAND PREMIER DIVISION Bohemians 4 Drogheda Utd 0: BOHEMIANS KEPT the heat on rivals Shamrock Rovers thanks to a four-star display at Dalymount Park. The champions bounced back from last week's derby defeat at Tallaght and back in front of their home faithful they kept their hopes of retaining their title alive.

Despite making sweeping changes for the midweek draw with Coleraine, Pat Fenlon restored 10 of the starting 11, who took the field at Tallaght, for a chance to make amends for that defeat.

Dundalk lined out in an attack-minded 4-4-2 formation and almost took a surprise lead within the opening 10 minutes as one of their two former players Brian Shelley handed Brendan McGill possession on the edge of the box.

The winger found Jamie Duffy, who pulled the ball back to James Chambers, but his shot was blocked and the loose ball fell to Brian King whose weak effort went wide.

After the early let off the hosts took control with Drogheda native Killian Brennan assuming responsibility in attack.

Brennan hit a stinging drive that Steve Williams had to parry behind, but last season’s double winners weren’t having it all their own way as Shelley was again caught napping from Robbie Clarke’s long ball, allowing Ross Gaynor to almost capitalise but Brian Murphy saved.

They then struck the bar on 25 minutes, McGill’s deep corner was headed back across goal by Scott Gibb for Alan McNally but his header came off the top of the woodwork and went over with Murphy stranded.

Mathews has talked about his side’s inability to take chances all season, and it cost them once again two minutes later as Byrne struck.

It was a sweet moment for the Tallaght native who endured the taunts of the visiting fans after his disastrous penalty miss against Rovers, but he bounced back in his own predatory style by capitalising on Conor Kenna’s underhit back pass to squeeze a shot past Williams.

The relief in Dalymount was palpable and Ndo doubled the lead three minutes later.

Paul Crowley was forced to head Brennan’s deep free-kick behind with Byrne lurking, and the winger’s corner was headed into the ground by Ken Oman for Ndo to acrobatically finish with his back to goal.

Conor Powell added a third after the break, his mishit cross floating over Williams’s head and into the net after 53 minutes.

It was the young left-back’s first ever goal for the club and the celebrations were raucous as the Gypsies cruised home with Glen Crowe’s injury-time fourth capping a fine display.

BOHEMIANS: B Murphy; Heary, Powell, Shelley, Oman, Powell; Brennan (A Murphy 74), Cronin, Keegan, Ndo; Madden (Crowe 80), Byrne (Fenn 67).

DROGHEDA UNITED: Williams; Gibb (Ryan 80), Kenna, McNally, Clarke; McGill, Chambers, Crowley, King (Bates 61); Gaynor, Duffy.

Referee: R Winter(Wicklow).