Brendan Markey's neatly struck 37th-minute penalty was all that separated the sides, as Bohemians got the perfect start to 1998 with their first away win of the season. The Dublin side were without doubt the better of the two in the opening half, but they were somewhat fortunate to hang on in the closing stages as Drogheda powered forward in search of an equaliser.

That it never came is an accurate barometer of Drogheda's season so far and their already precarious position at the foot of the table looks even more so at this stage. Twice in the last quarter they were denied by goal-line clearances from Derek Swan and Derek McGrath, while Greg O'Dowd also came close with a shot on the turn.

O'Dowd also had Drogheda's only decent chance in the first half with an angled drive which went just wide. However, it was Bohemians who dominated despite losing defender Tommy Byrne who was stretchered off after only two minutes. Markey almost broke the deadlock after 25 minutes when he latched on to a Doolin ball, but John Carroll cleared the danger for the home side with a welltimed tackle.

However, the Drogheda defender was the villain of the piece with a clumsy challenge on Doolin which led to the penalty eight minutes before the break.

Drogheda United Byrne, Hill, Coady, Impey, Carroll, Ramage, De Khors, O'Dowd, Gallen, Irwin, Harte. Sub Beggs for De Khors, J Reid for Gallen, Murphy for Ramage.

Bohemians: Henderson, Broughan, Byrne, Mullen, Markey, Doolin, Mooney, Lawlor, Swann, Hanrahan, McGrath. Subs: Ryan for Byrne, Parkes for Broughan.