LEAGUE OF IRELAND, PREMIER DIVISION St Patrick's Athletic 1 Drogheda Utd 0: A LATE tap-in from Stuart Byrne gave St Patrick's a vital win to help them move six points clear of the relegation places. But it was most definitely a laboured victory by Jeff Kenna's side against a Drogheda team that deserved something from the game.
Though a bright start brought a second minute chance when Garreth O’Connor’s goal-bound header from Ryan Guy’s cross came off defender Scott Gibb, it was hard to believe this was the same St Patrick’s side that performed so admirably against Steaua Bucharest last Thursday.
It was Drogheda, well-organised and with a decent shape to them, who appeared more up for the game and Alan Mathews’ side shaded the first half.
The combative James Chambers anchored the visitors’ midfield and posed a threat to St Patrick’s when he got forward, first on four minutes when he laid off Ross Gaynor’s cross for Eric McGill to blast over the top.
Chambers then showed his worth from set-pieces on 23 minutes when he was just wide with a powerfully struck free-kick after Gaynor was fouled on the edge of the box by Jason Gavin.
That finally drew a response from uninspiring St Patrick’s and Mark Quigley should have done better than shoot tamely at Steve Williams when played in on goal by Guy on 32 minutes.
Instantly direct, Drogheda hit back with Conor Kenna’s near -post header going straight at home goalkeeper Gary Rogers from a corner. St Patrick’s finally did come alive to enjoy their best spell of the half just before the interval. Glenn Fitzpatrick, an early substitute for Declan O’Brien, forced off with a finger injury, had an appeal for a penalty waved away when he appeared to be pulled down by Gibb.
Terrific defending then denied St Patrick’s the chance of the lead on 39 minutes. Fitzpatrick got to the end line to cross and Kenna got across superbly to take the ball off the toe of the in-rushing Guy.
But it was St Patrick’s who had a right let-off six minutes into the second half when Brian King’s header from a Brendan McGill cross came back off the bar.
An urgency eventually came into St Patrick’s game in the final quarter and Guy worked a one-two with Quigley to bring the save of the match from Williams before the goal arrived on 81 minutes.
Williams made another terrific save from Quigley’s shot which he just couldn’t hold and Byrne followed up to touch the ball over the line for the vital winner.
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Rogers; Lynch, Gavin, Partridge, D Ryan; Guy, Byrne, Cawley, O'Connor (B Ryan, 68 mins); O'Brien (Fitzpatrick, 16 mins), Quigley.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Williams; Gibb, McNally, Kenna, R Clarke; B McGill, E McGill, Chambers, King (Farrell, 86 mins); Martin (Bates, 86 mins), Gaynor.
Referee: Neil Doyle(Dublin).
