SOCCER LEAGUE OF IRELAND:Drogheda Utd 2 Cork City 1 (Kenna 9, O'Connor 80/Murray 62)

THE BATTLE of former managers deservedly went Alan Matthews’ way as basement side Drogheda belied their lowly position to inflict a damaging defeat on Paul Doolin’s title-chasing Cork side last night.

Drogheda took the lead after nine minutes from a corner out on the left which James Chambers whipped into the box for Conor Kenna who directed the ball into the net with a header.

United carried the game to their opponents throughout the half and were denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity in the 34th minute when Greg O’Halloran cynically took down Paul Crowley on the edge of the box as he burst through on goal.

Referee Declan Hanney brandished a yellow card to a fortunate City defender and from the resulting free Chambers guided his kick round the wall but wide of the target.

On 62 minutes the sides were level when Colin Healy’s free picked out substitute Guntars Silagalis whose header was pushed out by goalkeeper Paul Skinner but returned to the net by Murray who was in the right place at the right time to score.

The visitors were now in complete command and it seemed only a matter of time before they would hit the front but Drogheda weathered the storm and retook the lead 10 minutes from the end of play.

Jamie Duffy broke down the right and cut into the box where Danny Murphy got a challenge in but the ball broke to David O’Connor who planted his shot superbly to the bottom right corner past Dan Connor for what proved to be the winner.

DROGHEDA UNITED:Skinner, Clarke, Kenna, McNally, Shiels, Crowley, Chambers, Barrett, Martin (O'Connor 60), Duffy, King.

CORK CITY:Connor, Murphy, O'Halloran, Murray, Healy, Kuduzovic, Dennehy (O'Connor 77), Lordan, Behan, Sullivan, O'Donnell (Silagailis 52).

Referee:D Hanney (Dublin).