Drogs finally hit the net to score win
Saturday 17th March 2007, 12:37 am
Declan O'Brien, scored Drogheda's first goal of 2007.
Photo by Tom Carey.
16th March 2007
eircom League of Ireland Premier Division
Drogheda United 3
Declan O'Brien 30
Glen Fitzpatrick 61
Eamon Zayed 67
UCD 2
Derek Doyle 11
Bogdan Opera 85
United Park
Referee : Declan Hanney
Drogheda United survived a late surge from UCD to hold onto a 3-2 win in the Premier Division of the eircom League on Friday night, picking up their first goals of the season in the process.
Having drawn two and lost one of their opening three games, Drogheda needed to get on track early but instead it was the visitors who started brightly. The Drogs had a lucky escape when Graham Gartland cleared from Conor Sammon after only ten minutes. One minute later though Derek Doyle fired home a low shot past goalkeeper Dan Connor from the resulting corner kick.
Drogheda had a couple more scares when Gartland lost the ball in the box and Doyle went close from range. The Drogs levelled though on 30 minutes as Declan O'Brien diverted Paul Keegan's shot at goal past Darren Quigley.
Drogheda took the lead just after the hour when Glen Fitzpatrick chipped past Quigley following a stunning break by the home side from defence. Eamon Zayed, only on the pitch a couple of minutes, made it 3-1 on 67 minutes after a neat one-two with Shane Robinson before a clinical finish.
Drogheda still didn't manage to put the game to bed though and UCD's Bogdan Opera grabbed a late goal to leave Drogheda nerves rattled for the closing minutes - although they did hold out for their first win of 2007.
Drogheda United : Connor, Shelley, Webb, Gavin, Gartland, Robinson, Byrne, Keegan, Cahill, O'Brien (Zayed 65), Fitzpatrick.
UCD : Quigley, Mahon, Gallagher (Purcell 79), Kenna, McNally, King (Crowley 86), Byrne, McFaul (Opera 79), Finn, Sammon, Doyle.