Drogheda Utd 0 Rovers 2

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A superb win for the Hoops against title chasing Drogheda in United Park with Tadhg Purcell in fine form in front of goal. On a fairly calm evening the game started brightly with Robinson diving to meet a header that Murphy gathered on 6 minutes and Danny O'Connor at the other end just failing to meet an O'Brien free-kick. Gartland then went close for the home side on 12 minutes but he just failed to connect with a cross to the back post.

A Purcell header to Rowe on 16 minutes caused confusion in the Drogs defence and Dave O'Connor forced Vilmunen to push the ball away. Aiden Price was then called upon to clear a dangerous inswinging free-kick on 19 minutes as Drogheda looked for an opening goal. Murphy had to be quick off his line just three minutes later to deny Stuart Byrne.

A Cahill cross in the 27th minute saw Byrnes back header go just wide and 5 minutes later Danny O'Connor was on hand to block a Cahill shot from the edge of the box. The game became scrappy for five or six minutes but it was the Hoops that struck the first blow.

On 38 minutes some fine work from Rowe on the right saw his cross met perfectly by Purcell to volley the ball past Vilmunen. It was a fine strike by the Hoops number nine and it stung the home side into action but the Rovers defence soaked up the pressure.

The second half was only five minutes old when Ferguson conceded a soft free-kick at the edge of the area. Bradley struck the kick on goal but Murphy made a tremendous save to push the ball against the post. Drogheda were then reduced to 10 men when Gartland was shown a straight red card by Referee Stokes for an elbow on Purcell on 57 minutes.

Murphy saved a low shot from Byrne before the home side were hit with a sucker punch in the 64th minute when Rowe again found Purcell in the box and this time he volleyed the ball past Vilmunen while falling backwards. Just 4 minutes later a Cassidy cross found Rowe but he couldnt keep his shot on target. Rowe then made space for himself at the edge of the area but fired his shot just over.

The home side hit back and Zayed bore down on goal in the 71st minute but Murphy saved with his legs. A minute later Zayed again found himself free in the box but again Murphy advanced to block his goal bound effort. Rovers had to work hard for the remainder of the game but Drogheda never looked like breaching the Hoops defence despite their efforts.

Line-Out

1 Barry Murphy
2 Ger O'Brien
3 Derek Pender
4 Aiden Price
5 Barry Ferguson
6 Danny O'Corner
7 Dave Cassidy
8 Ian Ryan
9 Tadhg Purcell
10 Ger Rowe
11 Dave O'Connor


Substitutes :

13 Jamie Duffy
14 Tommy Barrett for Dave O'Connor 89'
15 Dean Lawrence
16 Stephen O'Brien 17 Andy Myler for Rowe 84'