AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION Drogheda Utd 1 Sligo Rovers 3:SLIGO CONSOLIDATED their position at the top of the table with this relatively comfortable win over a Drogheda side who looked out of sorts for the first time this season.
Rovers went two up in the first half and despite the fact that the home side got back into the match with a goal just before the break they absorbed anything United had to offer in the second half before striking for a clinching third goal 10 minutes from time.
Sligo made the brighter opening and went close early on from Rafaele Cretaro’s corner which was headed goalwards by Gavin Peers and then past the post by Danny North.
Mark Quigley flashed a shot narrowly wide off the heels of a Drogheda defender before Sligo hit the front after 10 minutes. Cretaro sent in another corner which Jason McGuinness met perfectly only to see his header cleared from the line by Derek Prendergast. However, Peers was on hand to meet the clearance and send the ball to the net
A Prendergast mistake almost gifted Danny Ventre a chance but the Sligo man couldn’t profit as United’s shaky start continued.
Gabriel Sava in the Drogheda goal wasn’t exactly inspiring confidence either as he spilled Ross Gaynor’s cross but Shane Grimes was on hand to spare his blushes.
It was 20 minutes before the home side eventually shook themselves from their lethargy when Sean Brennan’s shot was charged down by Jason McGuinness and despite strong claims for handball referee Damien Hancock was unimpressed.
Brennan had another effort blocked but it was no great surprise when Sligo doubled their advantage just past the half-hour mark as Ross Gaynor broke down the left and crossed for North who deftly guided the ball past Sava.
Quigley then sent a shot over the bar as Rovers pushed for what would have been a killer third goal but it was Drogheda who grabbed a lifeline six minutes from the break when Shane Grimes sent a fine ball in from the left for Declan O’Brien who headed past Gary Rogers. The early stages of the second half unfolded in a completely opposite manner to the first as Drogheda made all of the running. An exquisite Sean Brennan cross-field ball picked out Tiarnan Mulvenna but he lifted his shot well above the target.
United came within a whisker of equalising just short of the hour when O’Brien only just failed to get his head to a Brian Gannon cross that whizzed across the six yard line.
Despite enjoying the greater share of possession, Drogheda’s challenge ended with 10 minutes to go as Quigley slipped in North to score his second of the night and Sligo’s third.
Not long before the final whistle Cretaro had a great chance to make it four for the visitors but with the goal gaping he drove his shot wildly over the bar.
DROGHEDA UTD: Sava, Quigley, Prendergast, McNally, M O'Brien (Hynes, 77 mins), Mulvenna (Brady, 72 mins), S Brennan (Marshall, 89 mins), Grimes, Gannon, D O'Brien, Foley.
SLIGO ROVERS: Rogers, Boco, Peers, McGuinness, Davoren, Cretaro, Ventre, Cawley, Gaynor, Quigley (Dillon, 81 mins), North (Lynch, 90 mins).
Referee: D Hancock(Dublin)
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