It was fitting that at the end of an enthralling game full of thrills, spills and chances galore that Liam Burt, a master producer of magical goals, was the man to settle this encounter at Head In The Game Park.
Where it not for Burt's 75th-minute intervention, this would have gone down as one of the more memorable scoreless draws of recent times. His winner was the cherry on top of a game enjoyed by all 2,063 who came out to the Windmill Road on a glorious July evening.
Now that Dawson Devoy has left for MK Dons, Bohs need inspiration from somewhere. Burt certainly provided it, producing a lob from 20 yards that beat Colin McCabe and claimed back-to-back wins for Bohs for the first time all season.
With Dane Massey and Dylan Grimes still missing, Kevin Doherty replaced Adam Foley with Darragh Nugent in the United starting line-up, just as he did a week previously when the striker pulled up during the derby win against Dundalk.
As Bohs now embark on life without Devoy, the experienced former Republic of Ireland Under 21 midfielder John O'Sullivan was handed a first start. Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe was handed a start in attack.
The sides had yet to be separated during two draws in the previous meetings this season. A win for Drogheda at Head In The Game Park – where their recent home form has underpinned their campaign to date – would have lifted United to within a point of their visitors in midtable.
With Foley, Chris Lyons and Ryan Brennan on the bench, the goalscoring onus once again fell to Dean Williams. His six goals means he leads the way in that respect for the hosts. The 22-year-old has developed a knack for producing point clinching efforts in his short spell on Boyneside.
Devoy was, and is, Bohs’ leadings scorer this term. With five goals to his name, many will look to Promise Omochere to step up and return to goalscoring form soon. After this game, he is without a goal in nine.
He could have had four in the first 15 minutes. He was twice denied by McCabe and hit the post after a mix-up in the United rearguard presented him with an almost open goal to aim at.
It looked for all the world like Omochere had scored when he ran onto John O’Sullivan’s threaded ball. He outpaced veteran Keith Cowan and beat McCabe but his shot was the wrong side of the upright.
United went close too – doing their bit in a game that swung from one end to the other for almost the entire 90 minutes.It was manic and very watchable. Evan Weir and Darragh Nugent made Tadgh Ryan work, while John O’Sullivan tested McCabe’s capabilities in the home goal.
Kevin Doherty’s side will wonder for days, perhaps weeks, to come how Weir did not notch his fourth goal of an impressive season to give them the lead goal before the break. Darragh Markey’s deep cross looked harmless until Weir surged into the area and connected. His shot was heading inside the far post until the brilliant intervention of Josh Kerr.
The duel between McCabe and Omochere continued after the restart. The Drogheda stopper denied the striker again, and then a fourth time, with two excellent saves down to his right.
The Bohs frontman was replaced by teenager Ethon Varian and within minutes of his introduction, he helped fashion the winner. His neat flick found Burt who showed both vision and class to beat McCabe with a chip that nestled in the top corner.
United almost rescued a point at the end but centre back Andrew Quinn powered his header wide from a free-kick.
Drogheda United: Colin McCabe; Luke Heeney (Georgie Poynton, 90), Andrew Quinn, Keith Cowan, Evan Weir; Gary Deegan, James Clarke (Ryan Brennan, 78); Darragh Markey, Darragh Nugent, Dayle Rooney (Adam Foley, 68); Dean Williams (Chris Lyons, 79).
Bohemians: Tadhg Ryan; Jordan Doherty, Josh Kerr, Ciaran Kelly, Tyreke Wilson; Jordan Flores, John O’Sullivan (Jamie Mullins, 74), Conor Levingston; Liam Burt, Promise Omochere (Ethon Varian, 74), Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe (Declan McDaid, 61).
Referee: Paul McLaughlin
