Frantz Pierrot's first-half strike may prove telling for Drogheda United in their battle to avoid automatic relegation, as they edged past Bohemians 1-0 at Dalymount Park.
Pierrot netted in the 28th minute for the Boynesiders to move them four points clear of basement side Dundalk and they are now just five points behind Bohs in the table with six games to play. The Gypsies do have a game in hand on Drogheda though.
With both teams advancing to the last four of the FAI Cup last weekend with wins over First Division opposition, Bohs and Drogheda made one change each.
But it was Kevin Doherty’s side who started the better of the two teams having enjoyed most of the early opportunities. Their first arrived in the 11th minute when Pierrot had a shot blocked by Leigh Kavanagh after being played in by Ryan Brennan.
Ross Tierney then threatened to create a goalscoring opening for the hosts moments later as his burst forward saw the ball fall kindly to James Clarke who shot wide. But Drogheda were comfortable at this point.
Striker Douglas James-Taylor almost caught Bohemians stopper Kacper Chorazka off guard in the 18th minute when his lob from distance just trailed wide of goal.
Bohs had their moments though and could have opened the scoring through winger Danny Grant after Tierney and Devoy combined in midfield to play Dayle Rooney in. Rooney dragged his cross across the box to Grant but the former Huddersfield winger saw his effort blocked.
Drogheda subsequently hit the front minutes just before the half hour through Pierrot.
Bohs failed to clear a corner-kick on three occasions, and with the ball launched into the box for the third time, Andrew Quinn met Elicha Ahui’s ball to nod it on for Pierrot to flick home.
The visitors should have doubled their advantage in the 32nd minute when Pierrot pounced on an inviting Conor Kane pass from deep to turn Bohs defender Leigh Kavanagh on a sixpence. After racing past the former Brighton youth, Pierrot only had keeper Chorazka to beat but was cruelly denied when his shot clipped off both posts before going agonisingly wide.
Stunned into action, the Gypsies could have levelled before the break with Clarke, Jevon Mills and Rooney all going close with headers but neither could convert.
Knowing a win would all but secure their top-flight status, Bohs began the second period in the ascendancy and were unlucky not to level eight minutes in when Clarke just missed Archie Meekison’s wicked cross into the six-yard box.
Rooney then went close midway through the second half as his shot was batted clear by Drogs goalkeeper Dennison. Moments later, substitute Alex Greive missed a sitter for the hosts as he skied a rebound from Dawson Devoy over the bar with nobody to beat.
While Dennison was fortunate not to concede on that occasion, he pulled out all the stops to deny a superb free-kick from Rooney that looked destined for the top corner.
Bohs had further chances to equalise in a nerve-shredding finale as unmarked sub Paddy Kirk headed over from a Rooney corner late on but it was not to be as Drogheda held on.
Bohemians: Kacper Chorazka; Liam Smith, Leigh Kavanagh (Jevon Mills, 33), Cian Byrne, Jordan Flores (Paddy Kirk, 70); Archie Meekison (James Akintunde, 70), Dawson Devoy; Dayle Rooney, Ross Tierney, Daniel Grant (Declan McDaid, 70); James Clarke (Alex Greive, 62).
Drogheda United: Luke Dennison; Elicha Ahui, Andrew Quinn, James Bolger, David Webster, Conor Kane; Shane Farrell (Gary Deegan, 90), Darragh Markey, Ryan Brennan; Douglas James-Taylor (Adam Foley, 65), Frantz Pierrot.
Referee: Robert Harvey (Dublin).
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