Sport

Drogheda move back into second spot

Sligo Rovers 0 Drogheda United 2: Drogheda United moved back into second place in the Premier Division with a deserved 2-0 win…

Wed May 30 2007 - 01:00

Sligo Rovers 0 Drogheda United 2:Drogheda United moved back into second place in the Premier Division with a deserved 2-0 win over Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds last night.

Shane Robinson put the game out of Sligo's reach when he scored from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute after he was taken down by the Sligo goalkeeper.

Drogheda got off to a dream start when Brendan Shelley headed to the net after three minutes of the first half.

Paul Keegan's short corner was helped on by Tony Grant who found Shelley with a neat flick.

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Sligo missed a great chance to square the match in the sixth minute when Adam Hughes got clear of the visitors defence but drilled the ball narrowly wide of the goal before Eamon Zayed caused panic in the Sligo rearguard.

Paul Keegan shot inches wide of Tomislay Arcabas's goal on 10 minutes after some sloppy Sligo defending.

And Grant broke through the Sligo defence after 16 minutes with a goal at his mercy but last-gasp defending by the home side denied the striker.

Drogheda were on top during the opening 45 minutes restricting the home side's path to goal with some solid defending and fully deserved their interval lead.

With three changes from the side beaten by Shamrock Rovers last Friday - Paraic Keegan, Tony Grant and Stephen Gray returning to the team - Drogheda took up where they had left off in the first half.

Gary Curran failed to get his effort on target three minutes into the second half following a long kickout by goalkeeper Mikko Vilmunen.

Sligo substitute Sean Flannery, returning to action after a lengthy lay-off, blasted the ball wide of the visitors goal after 65 minutes as the home side stepped up a gear.

Stuart Byrne missed with a glancing header from a Keegan free kick in the 67th minute.

SLIGO ROVERS:Arcaba, Cretaro, Kelly, Coleman, McKenzie, O'Grady, Curran (Cash, 54 mins), Hughes, Judge (Flannery, mins 64), Kudozovic, Manson (Foy, 68 mins).

DROGHEDA UNITED:Vilmunen, Lynch, Webb, Gray, Robinson, Grant (Whelan, 81 mins), Shelley, Byrne, Zayed, Keegan, Cahill (Keddy, 87 mins).

Referee:Tommy Connolly (Dublin)