Bohemians1 Drogheda Utd 0

A TIMELY first league goal of his career from Marc Hughes rescued Bohemians with seconds to spare at Dalymount Park last night. With Drogheda hanging on with 10 men, Pat Fenlon’s champions were finding it hard to find a way past veteran goalkeeper Steve Williams.

But a lifeline arrived five minutes into time added on as Gavin Whelan committed a needless foul on Killian Brennan near the corner flag.

Paul Keegan floated the free-kick into the box and Hughes, on as a substitute for Neale Fenn, arrived to head home. The goal lifted the Dalymount roof as the relief of the fans was palpable.

The result was perhaps a little harsh on Drogheda who defended superbly throughout, with Williams making two terrific stops, while the central defensive pairing of skipper Alan McNally and Conor Kenna was excellent.

Bohemians, without influential skipper Owen Heary (injured) among four changes from the side beaten at Shamrock Rovers last week, started fluently and got at Drogheda from the first whistle.

Leading scorer Jason Byrne thought he was about to add to his 11 goals to date on three minutes but was denied by by McNally’s superbly-timed block.

Drogheda had midfielder Paul Crowley rightly dismissed with a straight red card on 88 minutes for a bad challenge on Byrne before Hughes’ late strike.

BOHEMIANS:B Murphy; Rossiter (McEvoy, 82 mins), Shelley, Oman, Powell; A Murphy, Cronin, Keegan, Carey (Brennan, h/t); Fenn (Hughes, 78 mins), J Byrne.

DROGHEDA UNITED:Williams; Ryan, McNally, Kenna R Clarke; Whelan, Shiels (King, 73 mins), Chambers, Barrett; Crowley; Martin (O'Connor, 90+2 mins).

Referee:D Tomney (Dublin).