Ruaidhri Higgins rose highest in the oppositon's box to head in a Raffaele Cretaro cross on 90 minutes to wrap up a much-needed win for the Premier Division champions.

Drogheda set up in a 4-5-1 system with youngster Colm Smyth leading the line, although he was rarely involved as the visitors spent the bulk of the game on the back-foot.

That is to be expected when playing against Bohs at Dalymount, but they held firm right until the last minute, which was a cruel blow for the Boynesiders.

Bohs did all that they could to break Drogheda down, although that cutting edge was absent from their play once again as they failed to score at home against UCD last week.

Paddy Madden was restored to the starting line-up for the Gypsies and he came close early on when his shot was blocked after good work from Brian Shelley.

Then Paul Keegan fired wide from distance and Killian Brennan shot straight at Drogheda keeper Paul Skinner before Shelley blasted over when he should have hit the target.

Drogheda tried to catch their opponents off-guard with Brian King and Smyth both contributing to what was a half chance for the visitors.

On 31 minutes Madden brought the best out of Skinner with an excellent header and up the other end Paul Crowley let rip with a first-time volley that went just wide.

Bohs continued to pile on the pressure with Shelley and Madden again trying their luck before Skinner pulled off another fine save to deny Brennan.

Raffaele Cretaro and Mark Quigley came on to give the home side some extra attacking drive, but other than a tame shot from the former they could not swing things in favour of their team.

Then a cross from the right wing supplied by Cretaro picked out the unmarked Higgins, who powered his header into the back of the net to ensure Bohs took the three points.

Bohemians: B Murphy; Rossiter (A Murphy 47), Shelley, McGuinness, Powell; Brennan, Keegan, Higgins, Greene (Cretaro 66); Madden (Quigley 77), Byrne.
Substitutes Not Used: O'Connor, Cronin.

Drogheda United: Skinner; Treacy, Harris, McNally (D Brennan 89), Kendrick; King, O'Connor, Daly, Crowley, B McGill; Smyth (Fitzpatrick 64).
Substitutes Not Used: Murphy, E McGill, R Brennan.

Referee: R Winter (Dublin)