19th March 2010

Drogheda United v Bohemians - 2-4

Match Report

In some ways it seems unbelievable that the Drogs lost this match after coming from behind to take the lead on 73 minutes, but in a way it was bad luck and some indiscipline which cost them dearly. Having taken the lead through a Joe Kendrick penalty after 73 minutes, we held on until a crazy three minutes between 84 and 87 when we contrived to have two players sent off on 84 and 87 and to compound our errors, Jason Byrne equalised on 86.

Bohs matches are always difficult for the Drogs and this one was no different. The display in Dundalk on Sunday last gave us plenty of heart, but the unfortunate red card to Mick Daly meant that he was suspended for tonight’s match. And we took the field in good shape with Brian King continuing at right back and Paul Crowley coming in for the suspended Daly in the middle. Jamie Duffy continued on the right.

It was clear from the start that we were up against a different proposition than last week, and Bohs sprayed the ball about expertly and Killian Brennan put it up to Kinger a number of times on the left and when we eventually got the ball after 4 minutes, Brendan McGill forced a corner and Paul Crowley’s header was just over. For the next ten minutes or so, it was a matter of containment by us and on 18 McGill and Crowley repeated their effort and Crowley again headed over. On 23, our best chance of the first half came when the hard-working Garreth O’Connor whipped over a great cross from the right and John Flood headed just over with the goal at his mercy.

On 31minutes O’Connor gave away a free on the right and the Drogs defence were guilty of ball-watching when they allowed Jason Byrne loads of space to make a darting run and his exquisite header gave Bohs a deserved lead goal. On 35 McGlynn shot just wide from a good position and we went in 1-0 down.

Robbie Martin replaced the injured Jamie Duffy after half time and we started the second half well enough. Brendan McGill showed well on the right and we were getting into good spaces in the middle. John Flood got an undeserved yellow card on 49 which was ultimately to cost him dear. We were trying to keep the pressure on and at the same Bohs looked ominous on the breakaway as we were playing very high up the field. Skinner tipped a good shot over on 57, but three minutes later on 61 a brilliant Paul Crowley header from a cross on the right saw the net bulge satisfyingly – every bit as good a goal as Byrne’s opener.

And it got better for the Drogs, who started to play with conviction and self-belief. We fought tigerishly for the ball in the middle with Garreth O’Connor and Paul Crowley both prominent. Bohs had a goal disallowed for offside on 68, but on 73 Glen Fitzpatrick sashayed into the box only to be taken down for a clear penalty. Cue disgraceful scenes where the Bohs players attempted to intimidate the Referee and his Assistant to change their minds – and the result of all this arguing and playacting was …………(yes, you guessed it, no card for any Bohs defender). And then of course we had Skippy playacting on the line and he got a deserved yellow – an attempt of course to intimidate the unflappable Joe Kendrick who buried the penalty to give us a 2-1 lead.

And that was about as good as it got, as the bishop said to the tribunal, On 76, Bohs forced four corners in a row and on 84 Joe got his second yellow when a Bohs shot struck him on the elbow as he turned away. This harsh decision by the inconsistent Doyle was a bodyblow, only to be made worse by the Bohs equaliser two minutes later and the tin hat was put on things by another rash tackle by John Flood on 87 which saw us reduced to 9 men with three minutes to go. Bohs scored their third a minute later and then reaped the reward for their delaying of the game over the penalty incident when the ref decided to play an extra six minutes, mostly caused by his own inability to take control at a crucial point in the game. Mind you, he only played five and a half.

And as the rain fell, almost in sympathy with our plight, we ruminated and muttered, but while we may lay some blame at the ref’s door, our indiscipline cost us dear as we found out last week, and if the refs have some hobby-horse type fouls they are going to clamp down-on, then it's up to ourselves to learn from this. The good thing is that we won’t have long to dwell on this as it’s off to Richmond a’Monda with our spirits suitably refreshed by watching the boys playing with the oddly-shaped balls tomorrow and our bruised egos tenderly massaged by our nearest and dearest. On reflection, a good performance – forget about the scoreline, accentuate the positive and e-lim-in-ate the negative ! !. See yiz above Monda’.

Team: Skinner, King, Harris, McNally, Duffy (Martin 45), Crowley, Flood, O’Connor, Fitzpatrick, McGill.

Cards Department:
Garreth O’Connor 31
John Flood, 49, 97 – sent off
Joe Kendrick 69, 84 – sent off