Bohemians 4-2 Drogheda United
Bohemians closed to within two points of Premier Division leaders Shamrock Rovers with a thrilling victory over ten-man Drogheda United at Dalymount Park.
The win, which they made hard work of, moves Bohs into the European places in third and the mettle of an unlikely title challenge will be proven in their next three games as they travel to to second-placed St Pat's and leaders Rovers either side of a home date with Derry.
This was a chaotic game from the first whistle. An early Kacper Radkowski volley gave the hosts the lead before Drogs deservedly levelled through Evan Weir. although he was sent off shortly before the interval.
Despite being a man and a goal up through Jonathan Afolabi at half time, Declan Devine's side struggled to shake off Drogs and Jamie Egan looked to have rescued the visitors a point before Afolabi’s ninth goal in seven games and a late James Clarke strike gave the Dubliners the points.
Bohs made light of any potential early nerves with a barnstorming start. From a throw in, Keith Buckley found Dylan Connolly free in the area and after his shot was blocked, James Clarke saw a volley tipped wide inside the first 45 seconds.
From the resulting Jordan Flores corner, towering centre half Radkowski turned clinical striker with a beautiful volley at the back post.
Great ball by Flores for Radkowski to finish 👇
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) August 4, 2023
BOH 1-0 DRO
⏱️ 2' #LOI | #BOHDRO pic.twitter.com/oP81OaO6XG
Drogheda responded well and Kyle Robinson showed a neat turn and shot across goal that struck the foot of the post before flashing an early shot wide of James Talbot’s goal
The visitors made their pressure pay with a deserved equaliser ten minutes before the break as Dayle Rooney’s free-kick delivery found Weir at the back post and he nodded home to send the travelling Drogs into raptures.
Cue pandemonium.
Moments after Bartlomiej Kukulowicz had a goal disallowed, Drogheda’s Weir went from hero to zero as a straight red was his punishment for a lunging challenge on Connolly.
A minute later, a Kris Twardek’s strike was inexplicably ruled out for offside by the linesman, who was then struck by a missile, causing the game to be halted for five minutes and almost abandoned.
The Gypsies ended a chaotic opening half in front when red-hot Afolabi pounced on Andrew Wogan’s error for his eighth goal in seven games and the easiest of his prolific spell.
The pattern of the second half was very much the traditional 11 v 10 framework but Bohs failed to heed the warnings of complacency and the Boynesiders were deservedly level 15 minutes from time. A neat one-two between Markey and Warren Davis saw the former tee up Jamie Egan to tap home a well-worked goal.
As in the first half, that sparked the hosts into life and they went back in front two minutes later after substitute Danny Grant was taken out by Wogan in the area and Afolabi made no mistake from the spot.
Clarke netted from distance against his former employers to put the icing on the cake five minutes from time and ease tensions in Phibsborough.
Bohemians: James Talbot, Bartlomiej Kukulowicz, Krystian Nowak (Byrne 46), Jordan Flores, Jonathan Afolabi, Dylan Connolly (Grant 46), Kacper Radkowski (Kirk 80), James McManus (Coote 60), James Clarke, Keith Buckley, Kris Twardek (O’Sullivan 83)
Drogheda: Andrew Wogan, Evan Weir, Conor Keeley, Darragh Markey, Gary Deegan, Kyle Robinson (Davis 72), Adam Foley (Leddy 83), Dayle Rooney, Jamie Egan, Luke Heeney (Kane 45), Aaron McNally.
Referee: Rob Hennessy (Clare)
