Fortunes favour Drogheda United for once as they see off wasteful Sligo Rovers
DESPITE Drogheda United's lofty league position it feels like the whole world has been against them in recent weeks.
Their controversial omission from the Europa Conference League has been the most crushing blow, but refereeing decisions seem to have gone against them and the squad's injury woes show no sign of abating.
So the relief was palpable at Sullivan & Lambe Park on Friday night when the Boynesiders' fortunes took a turn for the better and they held on to beat lowly Sligo Rovers and climb back up to second in the table for the weekend at least.
Drogheda perhaps could have put the game to bed earlier in the game and Conor Kane was out of luck when his long-range shot smashed off the upright with the score at 1-0, but in the final quarter physical and mental fatigue kicked in and Kevin Doherty's men were certainly fortunate that the Bit O'Red had left their shooting boots behind.
The all-important goal arrived in only the third minute when Warren Davis dispossessed Jad Hakiki in midfield, drove forward and then released Douglas James-Taylor who cut onto his right foot and arrowed a superb shot into the top corner of Sam Sargeant's net.
Sligo, though, created two good chances immediately after, with Luke Dennison blocking Wilson Waweru's shot from point-blank range before foiling Owen Elding when he placed his effort too close to the keeper.
Over the next 10 minutes Drogheda could easily have scored several more goals. Kieran Cruise's piledriver was blocked behind by Waweru, James-Taylor flashed a header just wide and Conor Keeley twice went close from set pieces.
Then James-Taylor got on the end of a great pass from Keeley, stepped inside his marker and rolled the ball invitingly to Davis who blazed over the bar from six yards.
Sligo had another good spell after that and Dennison and his captain Ryan Brennan were prominent in ensuring Drogheda's goal stayed intact.
The home side came good again at the end of the half, no doubt inspired by a superb 60-yard run by Andrew Quinn which led to a James-Taylor shot that was scrambled away for a corner.
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Quinn himself and Davis both had efforts blocked behind, James-Taylor then headed wide and deep into stoppage time Kane dribbled forward menacingly and unleashed a swerving effort that rattled the woodwork.
The second half was more of a rearguard exercise, though, as Drogheda visibly ran out of steam.
There were brief flashes of good attacking play. Davis and James-Taylor were working well together and the Tallaght native hit a poor shot over the bar in the 55th minute before pulling the ball back just out of reach for his strike partner. Kane had another chance which was blocked by a defender.
But for the most part Sligo were on the offensive and Dennison performed heroics to keep out Will Fitzgerald's effort in the 51st minute.
Just before the hour mark Quinn stepped in with a timely block to stop Elding as he went to pull the trigger, and Hakiki then latched onto a rebound and flashed a shot off the outside of the post when it looked easier to score.
Sligo sub Cian Kavanagh then flashed a header wide from inside the six-yard box before having another effort saved by Dennison.
The diminutive Darragh Markey, who had replaced Kieran Cruise at half-time, stood tall in the defensive wall to block an Elding free kick and there was another big scare in stoppage time when John Mahon headed goalwards and Elding was inches away from nodding the ball over the line for what would have been a dramatic equaliser.
DROGHEDA: Luke Dennison 9; George Cooper 7, Conor Keeley 8, Andrew Quinn 9; Kieran Cruise 6 (Darragh Markey 46, 7), Ryan Brennan 6, Luke Heeney 8, Conor Kane 8; Shane Farrell 7; Warren Davis 8 (Thomas Oluwa 79, 6), Douglas James-Taylor 8. Subs not used: Aaron Harper Bailey, Zishim Bawa, Bridel Bosakani, Scott Brady, Sean McCarthy, Fuhad Kareem, Jack Brady.
SLIGO: Sam Sargeant 7; Conor Reynolds 8, Gareth McElroy 6 (Kyle McDonagh 6), John Mahon 7, Reece Hutchinson 8; Jake Doyle-Hayes 7, Stephen Mallon 7 (Oskar van Hattum 69, 7); Owen Elding 7, Jad Hakiki 7 (Francely Lomboto 85), Will Fitzgerald 7; Wilson Waweru 5 (Cian Kavanagh 69, 5). Subs not used: Harvey Lintott, Connor Malley, Guilherme Rego Priosti, Daire Patton, Conor Walsh.
Attendance: 2,013
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