DROGHEDA UNITED ran out 4-3 winners over St Patrick's Athletic in a seven-goal thriller at Hunky Dorys Park.

St Pats presented the first opportunity of the match to Drogheda when Jordan White raced onto a Paul Crowley header back towards his own goal but the young striker drove his shot into the side netting.

With nine minutes gone the Saints were themselves gifted the opening goal after keeper Stephen Trimble allowed David McMillan’s shot from all of thirty yards beat him all too easily.

McMillan wasn’t far away with his next effort and then saw Trimble make the stop when a second goal appeared on the cards around the twenty minute mark.

Drogheda levelled matters after half an hour from the penalty spot when Dave Rogers converted after Conor Kenna tumbled Gavin Brennan.

Directly from the tip off United hit the front when Tiarnan Mulvenna won possession in the middle of the park before sending the ball through to Dinny Corcoran who saw off his marker to drive a shot past Gary Rogers.

Just before the break Drogheda had a goal chalked off in mysterious fashion by referee Richie Winter after Jordan White rose unchallenged to head the ball home and there was still time for Pats to equalise as McMillan found the net for a second time.  

Three minutes into the second half Pats went back in front from Sean O’Connor’s free which he clipped over the wall and past keeper Trimble whose positioning was questionable.

Drogheda restored parity once more five minutes later after Mulvenna picked up possession just outside the box and cracked a superb shot past Rogers.

The seventh and decisive goal of this enthralling encounter went United’s way and what a special one it was. The ball arrived to Corcoran out on the right forty yards from goal and spotting Rogers off his line he sent a wonderful strike over the stranded net minder home.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Trimble, O’Keeffe, Hand, McNally, Rogers, O’Brien, Mulvenna (Fitzgerald 77), McMahon, Corcoran, White, Brennan.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Rogers, Pender (Shortall H/T), Bermingham, Kenna, McMillan E (Murphy H/T), McFaul (Doyle 79), North, McMillan D, Mulcahy, Crowley, O’Connor.

REFEREE: R Winter (Dublin)