NOEL KING enjoyed a dream start as Dundalk boss as they claimed their first win of the season at the 12th attempt.
Sweet first-half strikes from Scott High and Robbie Benson were enough to claim all three points, although the Lilywhites remain bottom of the table a third of the way through the season.
King was a surprise appointment as Dundalk manager on Saturday. At his unveiling on Tuesday, he cautioned against expectations of an instant impact.
He got a muted response from the crowd when his name was read out over the tannoy but, at the half-time and full-time whistles, they were toasting him, even if he appeared to take a backseat role.
In the first half in particular, he barely shifted from the dugout with Brian Gartland and Liam Burns – who had been in caretaker charge for two games following Stephen O’Donnell’s dismissal – on their feet barking instructions and questioning decisions.
Whatever the dynamic was, it worked because Dundalk were full value for their 2-0 lead at the break and, although Bohs had hit the post, they could have had no complaints if they had been even further behind at the interval.
When the sides had met at Dalymount Park 11 days previously, the Louth outfit had been the better team in the opening period without creating too many clearcut chances before Bohs used their bench to win the game in the second half.
This time around, Dundalk looked far more potent, although both of their goals came from strikes from outside the box.
John Mountney and Benson had already had half chances before Luke Matheson did well to stop Daryl Horgan getting his shot away.
But there was no denying High in the 13th minute. Horgan played a corner short to Benson. His cross in was not properly cleared and came again to Horgan.
The ex-Ireland international laid it off to High who was in space and scored in off the post.
Mountney twice threw himself at crosses but could not connect with deliveries from either Horgan or Jamie Gullan.
Bohs were offering little in return with James Clarke firing over following a Jordan Flores free-kick.
But they did hit the woodwork from another set-piece after James Akintunde had been fouled by Koen Oosetenbrink.
Dayle Rooney’s strike hit the inside of the post with George Shelvey well beaten but, luckily for him, it came back out.
There was no shift in momentum with Dundalk continuing where they had left off. Mountney narrowly failed to punish Chorazka when he failed to claim a corner.
Then, Matheson made three blocks and James McManus one as the ball pinged around the Bohs box.
The second goal came in the 35th minute. Mountney played in High who cut it back from the byline to Horgan who teed up Benson to curl a shot home from 20 yards.
FIGHTING BACK
Declan McDaid did hit a shot wide shortly before half-time but it could not come quickly enough for Alan Reynolds who made three changes with Brian McManus, Adam McDonnell and Filip Piszczek sent on for Matheson, James McManus and Flores.
Bohs did improve and had the perfect opportunity to get back into the game when Declan McDaid was tripped by Benson after Clarke and Akintunde linked up well.
Akintunde had scored four goals in his previous seven games – including the winner against Dundalk – but his weak penalty was easily saved by Shelvey.
Shortly afterwards, Gartland signalled for the English goalkeeper to go down which he duly did so the home bench could issue some orders to the outfield players.
They stuck to their task and could have grabbed a third but Chorazka produced a point-blank save to deny Gullan.
THE SIDES
SUN STAR MAN: Daryl Horgan (Dundalk)
DUNDALK: Shelvey 7; Davies 7, Boyle 7, Johnson 7, Bradshaw 7; High 8, Keane 6 (Oostenbrink 23, 7); Mountney 8, Benson 7, Horgan 8; Gullan 8 (Kenny 89, 3).
BOHEMIANS: Chorazka 6; Matheson 6 (B McManus 46, 5), Mills 5, Keita 5, Kirk 5; Flores 5 (McDonnell 46, 6), J McManus 5 (Piszceck 46, 5); Rooney 5 (Connolly 71, 4), Clarke 5, McDaid 6 (Grant 79, 4); Akintunde 5.
REFEREE: R Hennessy (Clare)