Drogheda United 1-2 Finn Harps

Stephen Parkhouse grabbed a second-half double as jubilant Finn Harps climbed out of the relegation zone at United Park.

The Donegal men, who looked all but safe from the drop only four weeks ago, had been dragged into the mire by the superb form of Galway United and Cobh Ramblers, and started this match two places from safety.

But facing a weakened Drogheda, who are in examinership and fighting for their very existence, Harps ultimately profited from their opponents' woes.

The Donegal men pinned their hosts back in the early stages. Stephen Parkhouse almost profited from some suspect defending after only three minutes, hooking the ball over the bar.

And the home side's defending was also highly suspect in the sixth minute when Michael Funston received the ball from David Tyrrell on the edge of the box, only to shoot wide of the target.

The Drogheda goal survived another scare when a Neil McCafferty free kick evaded everyone in the box and almost sneaked inside keeper Paul Skinner's left-hand post.

But Paul Hegarty's side seemed to lose their way at this stage, and a fine move nearly resulted in a Drogheda goal on 20 minutes.

Ollie Cahill picked out the run of Joe Kendrick, whose cross was met by a firm Adam Hughes header, forcing James Gallagher into a good save.

Then Drogs captain Declan O'Brien was foiled by the keeper after he was set up by strike partner Sami Ristila.

Harps had their best chance to date when Parkhouse was gifted a free header from Marc Mukendi's cross, only to steer the ball wide of the target.

It proved a costly miss, for in the 36th minute Drogheda got their noses in front. The ball was worked wide to Fahrudin Kuduzovic, whose shot seemed to take a wicked deflection in front of Gallagher.

O'Brien was lurking in the six-yard area to slot past the helpless keeper. Harps almost conceded a second goal seconds later, but Gallagher spread himself brilliantly to block Ristila's shot from point-blank range.

Gallagher was stretched to prevent an own goal from McCafferty at the start of the second half, but on 59 minutes the visitors were back on level terms.

Drogheda claimed in vain for an apparent foul on O'Brien as Harps launched a quick counter attack, and when McCafferty delivered a pin-point cross from the right, Parkhouse was on hand to nod home from close range.

But the visitors were grateful to Gallagher for keeping his side level in the 65th minute, Kuduzovic foiled by a fine diving save, and the Harps stopper then denied O'Brien when the Drogheda man looked favourite to score.

Harps stole a priceless winner on 83 minutes, though, when Parkhouse forced the ball over the line after Conor Gethins' initial shot had been brilliantly parried by Skinner.

Drogheda United: Skinner, Clarke, Tambouras, Maher, Kendrick, Kuduzovic, Hughes, Keegan, Cahill, Ristila (Zayed 55), O'Brien.

Finn Harps: Gallagher, Mukendi, Malcolm, Minnock, Holmes, Funston, Boyle, McCafferty, Tyrrell (Breen 77), Parkhouse, Gethins (Beckett 87).

Referee: Anthony Buttimer (Cork).