2nd April 2010

Drogheda United v Sligo Rovers

Match Report
Drogheda United 2 - Sligo Rovers 2

After last weeks nightmare trip to Santry Stadium , this was more of the real Drogs in action in a dramatic night at Hunky Dorys Park when the drama began before the game kicked off. With John Flood suspended, Gareth O'Connor injured, Robbie Martin doubtful, we were already under enough pressure and then Brendan McGill pulled up with a pulled muscle in the warm-up. Ryan Brennan, who got a deserved call from the Irish Under 19s during the week, lined out in midfield beside Paul Crowley, Eric McGill and Mick Daly. Joe Kendrick came back after suspension and we were hopeful that things would tighten up at the back. Jamie Duffy started with Glen Fitz up front.

Sligo were a tough proposition, with power and skill all round the filed , so it was going to be a tough encounter and we created the first chance on 5 minutes when a great sweeping Glen Fitzpatrick cross just eluded the inrushing Ryan Brennan at the far post. Our central midfield of Crowley and McGill were competing well for the ball, but it looked like Sligo had a few moves up their sleeves which they would unleash if they were let, and to be fair to us, we kept them well harnessed for the first 20 minutes, but, in a simple move on 24, Sligo got possession at the left corner flag and Blinkhorn was allowed to cross the ball and Almond was unchallenged as he poked the ball in from a yard out. Shades of last week !, and two minutes later a Sligo free flashed just wide of the left hand post. Jamie Harris shipped a couple of elbow-type tackles and was forced to come off after 30 minutes to be replaced by Eoghan Osbourne.

Being a goal down and losing a defender (and with not many fit players on the bench) seemed to give us the incentive we needed and we were fighting a little bit harder in the middle and Eric McGill let off a rasper on 33 and this was the signal for us to press their defence as Sligo lost a bit of concentration. and on 42 a free on the right near the end line saw Jamie Duffy rise majestically to send a header into the corner of the net. So we went in contented at half time with everything to play for at half time.

The big danger for us in the second half was that Sligo would try to move the ball quickly and upset our inexperience in midfield, but it was the Drogs who did the early pressing and on 53 Ryan Brennan just failed to connect with a good Jamie Duffy pass. Sligo came into the game for a while after that and we had two game-changing moments on 54 and 55 when they hit the post and Skinner made a great save to clear a dangerous attack.This gave us heart and we started to play good football out of defence with our two youngest players Osbourne and Brennan playing their part and Jamie and Glen gave the Sligo back 3 plenty to think about. We attacked well and got what we deserved with as good a goal as we have seen in HDPK for a long time, We worked the ball up the left, Glen laid it off to Eoghan Osbourne and his early cross was met by Mick Daly's brilliant header to give us a deserved lead.

And, as has happened recently, on our temporary moment of triumph we let our concentration drop and only two minutes later gave away a free kick just outside the box and paid dearly when McCabe's shot landed in the corner of the net. But, despite this temporary reverse, we got a grip on things again and came close to scoring before the end through a great Ryan Brennan cross on 87 which only needed a touch. But in the end a point is a point and with our injury list, its a point we woulda took at the start. So roll on Bray on Monday. And with a good feeling in our hearts after a good display, what better way for the night to be wound down than a few jugs, but this place not being Limerick, we were forced to trudge the lonely streets, past Mothers, not a peep, past Aggies (closed), past Gleesons (light on - probably a few guards inside), up Lardences Street to be greeted by the dismal sight of not a peep in McHughs or Sarches, the same in Barney Macs - our last hope - the Widdas, a knock on the door , a knock on the winda, no reply.........what kind of a country is this !!, home and only a can of dutch gold in the coal scuttle....at least there's one !

Team: Skinner, King, Kendrick,Harris (Osbourne 30), McNally, Brennan, E.McGill, Crowley, Daly,Fitzpatrick, Duffy.