Cawley earns Sligo Rovers some reward as Drogheda are left to rue missed chances

Drogheda United 1 Sligo Rovers 1

This was a wonderful advertisement for the Airtricity League as Drogheda and Sligo shared the points. Indeed the Boynesiders will feel they should have won it given the chances they created in the second half.

A lively opening saw Shane Grimes lift the ball beyond keeper Gary Rogers but Alan Keane was on hand to head clear while at the other end Joseph Ndo clipped a shot wide.

Ndo clipped a free round the Drogheda wall but Michael Schlingermann got down well to make the save.

Drogheda took the lead with a well-worked goal on 29 minutes when Ryan Brennan slipped a pass into Shane Grimes who checked his run on the end line before crossing for Paul O’Conor who rattled the net.

Before the break Sligo threatened an equaliser as Cretaro’s deflected effort was cleared from the line by McNally and Djilali sent a screamer over the bar from 25 yards.

Sligo pressure finally yielded an equaliser in the 50th minute after Danny North swept a cross in from the right for David Cawley to apply the touch that sent the ball in off the post.

O’Conor and Declan O’Brien both went close to giving Drogheda the lead but the latter fluffed a header with the goal gaping.

The latter then fired straight at Rogers after 73 minutes following a slip-up in Sligo’s defence.

The frantic action continued at both ends and there was still time for Drogheda to go close twice more as Philip Hand's free brought the save from Rogers and Paul O'Conor's last minute header grazed the bar.
DROGHEDA: Schlingermann, Hand, Prendergast, McNally, O'Conor, R Brennan, G Brennan, Grimes, Cassidy, O'Brien, Byrne.
SLIGO ROVERS: Rogers, Keane, Peers, Henderson, Ndo, Greene, Djilali, Cretaro (Elding 86), North, Conneely (McMillan 70), Cawley. Referee: P. Sutton (Clare)