Drogheda 1 - Longford 0:  League leaders Drogheda United recorded their sixth 1-0 victory in succession in all competitions when they just about did enough to see off Longford last night.

Drogheda were lacklustre throughout the match, but struck for the only goal of the game on 36 minutes when captain Declan O'Brien found the net for his first league goal of the season.

However, the visitors began brightly and as early as the fourth minute Alan Kirby's drive from 25 yards sailed narrowly wide.

In their first attack Drogheda should have opened their account when Simon Webb's cross from the left found Declan O'Brien unmarked in front of goal, but the striker miskicked from only eight yards out.

The home side hit the front when Dan Connor caught the ball from a Longford corner on the left. He threw it quickly to Stephen Bradley, who raced from just outside his own box to the edge of the Longford penalty area before drawing defender Kevin Doherty and laying the ball into the path of O'Brien, who drove past Seamus Kelly to the net.

Seconds into the second half the home side should have had a second goal when Glen Fitzpatrick knocked the ball to Webb who saw his shot cleared off the line by Stephen Paisley.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Connor, Webb, Gavin, Gartland, Whelan, O'Brien, Fitzpatrick, Fahy (Robinson 77) , Shelley, Bradley (Lynch 64) , Keegan.

LONGFORD TOWN: Kelly, Gough (Cronin 49), Murphy, O'Connor, Paisley, Kirby, Baker (Martin 90), Byrne, Prunty, Doherty, Myler (Mooney 82).

Referee: D Hancock (Dublin).