Drogheda U 0 Sligo R 3:SLIGO ROVERS moved top of the Airtricity League Premier Division with this comprehensive victory over a Drogheda side, depleted by suspensions, who were always on the back foot after conceding an early goal.

Sligo got off to a flyer scoring inside two minutes when Joseph Ndo’s corner found Derek Foran who teed the ball up for Aaron Greene who rattled the net with a powerful strike from the edge of the box.

Rovers dominated matters but created little in the way of chances apart from a Matthew Blinkhorn shot that ’keeper Stephen Trimble saved and a bullet-like header from Gavin Peers which flew wide.

However, after 29 minutes the visitors doubled their lead when a defensive error allowed Blinkhorn cut in from the right before picking out Greene who netted again – this time from an acute angle.

Drogheda’s sole chance of the half didn’t materialise until just before the break as Shane Fitzgerald sent his long-range strike only just wide.

The second half proved comfortable for Sligo who remained in control as Drogheda struggled to fashion any real chances. The best United could muster was a Peter McMahon volley which Brendan Clarke dealt with comfortably.

Rovers were denied a third when Trimble denied Richie Ryan and Ndo with fine stops in quick succession. However, goal number three duly arrived eight minutes from time after a goalmouth scramble which eventually saw John Russell bundle the ball over the line.

With the Drogheda defence now at sixes and sevens, Russell and Conor Powell saw their efforts stopped on the line as the home side just about avoided a tanking.

In additional time United were reduced to ten men after Mark O’Brien was cautioned for a second time.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Trimble, Gaul (Corcoran 69), Clarke, Gannon, Rogers, Quigley, O’Brien, McMahon, White (Dolan69), Fitzgerald (Melis 80), Hand.

SLIGO ROVERS: Clarke, Peers, Davoren (Powell 77), Keane, Foran, Ndo, Greene, Ryan, Ventre (Kirby 84), Russell, Blinkhorn (Cretaro 71). Referee: P. Sutton (Clare)