FRANTZ PIERROT ensured Drogheda finally ended their away-day hoodoo with a hard-fought win at Dalymount.
The Haitian’s first-half strike saw the Boynesiders’ 360-day wait for a victory on their travels came to an end.
The Drogs put some breathing space between themselves and Dundalk, while forcing Bohs to once again look nervously over their shoulders.
Kevin Doherty’s men started on the front foot and could have been ahead before the quarter-hour mark.
The front two of Douglas James-Taylor and Pierrot caused problems early on, with the latter having a thunderous strike from just inside the area bravely blocked by a last-ditch Leigh Kavanagh tackle.
Midway through the first half on-loan Walsall hitman James-Taylor had a glorious chance following a mix-up at the back.
The ball sat up kindly for the frontman and with Kacper Chorazka off his line, his attempted lob sailed just wide.
Minutes later the visitors got their reward when Pierrot was on hand to volley home Andrew Quinn’s knockdown following a spell of sustained pressure.
Pierrot was bullying Kavanagh and could have doubled the advantage immediately after.
Having shown great strength to roll the central defender, the attacker drilled a shot off the foot of the post and the ball somehow bounced clear.
The home side responded well, with two former Drogs spurning fantastic chances to level before half-time.
James Clarke found a yard of space but headed away from goal from six yards.
And on the stroke of half-time Dayle Rooney latched on to Jordan Flores’ deep cross but again missed the target with the goal at his mercy.
The hosts came flying out of the traps after the break and forced a goalmouth scramble in which Archie Meekison almost levelled.
But frustration crept in before Rooney had a near-post effort well saved by ex-Bohs keeper Luke Dennison as the Gypsies ramped up the pressure.
With 20 minutes to go, substitute Alex Grieve somehow failed to convert from just a couple of yards out having followed up on Dawson Devoys’s initial strike that was parried into his path.
Despite the one-way traffic for the remainder of the game, Drogs held firm.
SUN STAR MAN: Frantz Pierrot (Drogheda Utd)
BOHEMIANS: Chorazka 6; Smith 6, Kavanagh 5 (Mills 35, 6) , C. Byrne 6, Flores 6 (Kirk 71, 6); Devoy 7, Meekison 6 (Akintunde 71, 6); Rooney 7, Tierney 7, Grant 6 (McDaid 71, 6); Clarke 7 (Grieve 61, 6)
DROGHEDA UNITED: Dennison 6; Ahui 7, Quinn 7, Webster 7, Kane 7; Farrell 7 (Deegan 90+1, 6), Brennan 7 Bolger 7, Markey 7; Pierrot 9, James-Taylor 6 (Foley 65, 6).
REFEREE: R Harvey (Dublin) 6.
