Drogheda 0 Bohemians 1:A SOLITARY first-half goal proved sufficient to secure victory for Bohemians as Drogheda's search for their first win of the season continues. Bohemians were clearly the superior side throughout. However, they found it difficult to kill the game off against the battling basement side.

Bohemians totally dominated the opening 45 minutes and should have opened their account after 13 minutes when Killian Brennan’s cross picked out Anto Flood who saw his fine header brilliantly saved by Stephen Trimble in the Drogheda goal.

With half an hour gone the visitors eventually made their superiority pay as Brennan picked the ball up on the right-hand side of the box and was all too easily allowed drift left unchallenged before he cracked a shot to the net.

Before the interval Brennan was denied a second by the woodwork when he picked up a cheeky back -heel from Ger O’Brien and deftly curled towards the target only to see the ball rebound off the post.

Just beyond the hour Drogheda had a couple of strong appeals for penalties turned down by referee Paul Tuite as quick-fire shots from Philip Hand and Darragh Hanaphy appeared to be handled in the box by defenders.

However, it was Bohemians who went closest to scoring again when Flood met Brennan’s corner but guided the ball narrowly over the bar. The Gypsies were then denied a penalty after Philip Nolan clearly controlled the ball with his arm and Drogheda were rescued by Brian Gannon when he headed Keith Buckley’s effort off the line.

In the final minute Ger O’Brien had the opportunity to settle Bohs nerves when he broke through the middle but he pulled his shot wide of the target when well-placed.

DROGHEDA: Trimble, Nolan, Hand, McNally, Ekanem, Gannon, McCrossan (Flynn 56), Quigley (Skelly 49), Hanaphy, Freeman (Corcoran 78), O’Brien.

BOHEMIANS: O’Connor, Heary, O’Brien, Rossiter, Burns, Price, Buckley, Bayly, Flood, Traynor (Forrester 90), Brennan.

Referee: P Tuite (Dublin)