Drogheda U 2 Sligo R 2:A CRACKING contest finished honours even at the end of 90 pulsating minutes. Sligo took the lead just past the mid-point of the opening half, were pegged back in stoppage time, fell behind with just under 20 minutes to go before levelling matters almost immediately to earn a point.

The first opportunity fell to the home side when Glen Fitzpatrick’s cross picked out Ryan Brennan on the back post. But under pressure he clipped his shot wide.

Sixty seconds later another ball in from the right by Michael Daly saw Eric McGill’s goal-bound effort blocked by a defender.

A mistake by Daly when he handed possession to Conor O’Grady saw Sligo take the lead after 25 minutes. O’Grady quickly moved the ball left to Matthew Blinkhorn who crossed for Pádraig Amond to finish in style.

Near half-time Sligo goalkeeper Richard Brush was perfectly placed to save McGill’s stinger.

But there was nothing he could do to prevent Drogheda equalising in the third added minute when Jamie Duffy rose highest to meet Joe Kendrick’s free.

The second half began in blistering fashion, especially from Rovers perspective, as Blinkhorn twice went close. First, Skinner did well to push his piledriver to safety but he could only look on as the striker’s clever lob beat him before coming back off the post.

On 72 minutes Daly made amends for his earlier error when he met Eoghan Osborne’s cross superbly to head past Brush.

Drogheda’s lead only lasted a couple of minutes. McGill fouled Amond 25 yards from goal and Gary McCabe stepped up to drive the free round the wall.

DROGHEDA UTD: Skinner, Kendrick, McNally, McGill, Brennan, Duffy, Crowley, Harris (Osborne 33), Daly, King, Fitzpatrick.

SLIGO ROVERS: Brush, Ventre, Davouren (Foran h-t), Almedia, Keane, O’Grady (Doninger 57), Dillon (McCabe 65), Ryan, Blinkhorn, Amond, Doyle.

Referee: D McKeon (Dublin).