Luke Dennison haunts old club as Drogheda United edge Bohemians in hard-fought clash
LUKE DENNISON produced a late double save to deny Bohemians a share of the spoils.
Archie Meekison and 18-year-old debutant Hugh Smith had just been thrown on by Alan Reynolds wen they each had a chance to make themselves a hero.
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Drogheda Utd saw off Bohs in a tense League of Ireland clash on Friday night
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Drogheda United goalkeeper Luke Dennison moved from Bohs last year without making a LOI appearance for the Dublin side
But, after Colm Whelan, had played the initial through-ball, the ex-Bohs keeper batted away their efforts in quick succession before the danger was cleared.
Earlier, Douglas James-Taylor had converted a penalty on the hour mark which proved enough to claim their first win in four games and move them up to second.
Bohs - still yet to draw this season - will wonder how they took nothing from the game.
Although Dennison was not overworked, the visitors twice struck the woodwork and had the lion's share of possession, much of it in their opponents' half.
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But Drogheda are masters of soaking up pressure and making the most of any opportunities that come their way.
With James-Taylor upfront, supported by Warren Davis and Shane Farrell, they carrived an obvious threat on the counter-attack.
Drogheda felt he should have had a penlty much earlier than they did, in the sixth minute when Davis was chopped down by Rob Cornwall.
The Bohs centre-half did not appear aware of where the forward was before tripping him. That is no defence but referee Declan Toland waved away their claims.
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Dennison left the Phibsborough club feeling he had never gotten a fair crack of the whip, departing without a league appearance, but the move up the M1 has worked a treat.
The American keeper won the FAI Cup last November and this was a fresh cance to prove a point, although he made few actual saves.
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Former Drogheda favourite Dayle Rooney hit the bar with a header from a Dawson Devoy cross.
Then, a Devoy cross evaded everyone before Jordan Flores, at the far post, steered it into the opposite corner.
This time it was the visitors to feel aggrieved with a decision by the officials. They were adamant he had been played onside.
Drogheda boss Kevin Doherty was no happier when Ryan Brennan and Elicha Ahui were booked in quick succession for challenges on James Clarke and Ross Tierney.
But, then again, Brennan was probably lucky not to have received a yellow for a subsequent handball.
Bohs went close from the free-kick wihch followed Ahui's infringement.
Rooney's delivery was knocked back across goal by Flores but the ball hung in the air in such a way it made it hard for Tierney to generate power in his header with Dennison making a comfortable save.
Both Devoy and Tierney had efforts deflected off-target with Bohs frustrated at their failure to take the lead before the break.
But, as much as they dominated, they twice ahd to rely on Kacper Chorazka to come up trumps to deny James-Taylor.
He batted away two stinging shots from the Englishman as Drogheda again showed their threat in transition.
He was not to be denied a third time after Keeley went to ground as Grehan wrestled with him in the box.
The on-loan Walsall striker made no mistake from 12 yards, smashing the ball high into the net.
Bohs had a couple of good chances to level shortly after falling behind.
First, Devoy played a short corner to Rooney with Cornwall narrowly failing to connect with is flighted ball to the far post.
Then, Adam McDonnell was just off target after some good work from Devoy.
And, with 10 minutes to go, Whelan, who had not had a sniff of goal previously, struck the bar after collecting Niall Morahan's ball with Dennison beaten.
The striker - who played the full 90 wit Lys Mousset again injured - later teed up his team-mates but they could not take advantage with Chorazka denying Farrell late on at the other end.
SUN STAR MAN: Conor Keeley (Drogheda United)
DROGHEDA UNITED: Dennison 7; Lambe 6, Ahui 7, Keeley 8, Quinn 7, Kane 7; Brennan 6 (Markey 55, 6), Heeney 7; Davis 6 (Oluwa 69, 5), Farrell 6; James-Taylor 7 (Cruise 86, 4).
BOHEMIANS: Chorazka 7; Morahan 7 (Meekison 83, 5), Cornwall 6 (Brennan 71, 5), Grehan 5, Flores 6; Devoy 8, McDonnell 6 (Buckley 71, 6); Clarke 6 (H Smith 83, 5), Tierney 7, Rooney 7; Whelan 6.
REFEREE: D Toland (Roscommon) 6
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