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Drogheda United 2 Sligo Rovers 2
Friday, 02 April 2010 10:32
A cracking contest that ebbed and flowed throughout finished honours even at the end of ninety pulsating minutes at Hunky Dorys Park.

Sligo took the lead just past the mid-point of the opening half, were pegged back in stoppage time, fell behind with just under twenty minutes to go before leveling matters almost immediately which earned them a point.

The first opportunity of the match fell to the home side early on when Glen Fitzpatrick's cross picked out Ryan Brennan on the back post however under pressure he clipped his shot wide.

Sixty seconds later another ball in from the right by Michael Daly saw Eric McGill's goalbound effort blocked by a defender as United pressed for the opening goal.

A mistake by Michael Daly when he handed possession to Conor O'Grady saw Sligo take the lead after twenty five minutes.  O'Grady quickly moved the ball left to Matthew Blinkhorn who crossed for Padraig Amond to finish in style.

Shortly afterwards the visitors went mighty close to doubling their lead when Blinkhorn met Richie Ryan's free however with a diving header he sent the ball only inches wide.

As the clock ticked towards half time Sligo keeper Richard Brush was called into action when he was perfectly placed to save McGill's stinging drive.

But there was nothing he could do to prevent Drogheda equalising in the third added minute when Jamie Duffy rose highest to power the ball to the net from Joe Kendrick's free.

The second half began in blistering fashion especially from Rovers perspective as Blinkhorn twice went close to re-establishing his side's lead.  Firstly net minder Skinner did really well to push his piledriver to safety but he could only look on as the strikers vlever lob beat him all ends up before coming back off the post.

In between Duffy and Brennan combined for United only for the latter to be denied a strike on goal from close range by Mavro Almedias fine challenge.

With just over an hour gone Fitzpatrick's shot through a crowded goalmouth caused panic in the Sligo defence before the ball was pushed out to Brennan who saw his shot saved by Brush before being smothered by the keeper at the second attempt.

With 72 minutes gone Michael Daly made amends for his earlier error when he met Eoghan Osborne's cross from the left superbly to power his header past the static Brush.
Drogheda's lead only lasted a couple of minutes after McGill fouled Amond twenty five yards from his own goal and substitute Gary McCabe stepped up to drive the free round the wall to the bottom corner of the net.



Drogheda: Skinner, Kendrick, McNally, McGill, Brennan, Duffy, Crowley, Harris (Osborne 33), Daly, King, Fitzpatrick. 

Sligo:  Brush, Ventre, Davouren (Foran h/t), Almedia, Keane, O'Grady (Doninger 57), Dillon (McCabe 65), Ryan, Blinkhorn, Amond, Doyle.

Referee:  D. McKeon (Dublin).
 
 
 
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