Sligo Rovers 3-1 Drogheda United
Friday, 6 November 2009 22:28Sligo Rovers secured their Premier Division status with an assured defeat of Drogheda United at The Showgrounds.
Second half goals from Gavin Peers and Matthew Blinkhorn deservedly saw Rovers take the spoils on a cold night in Sligo.
Rovers had the best possible start, with Eoin Doyle hitting the net after just over 90 seconds of play.
It came after good work from Romuald Boco and Danny Ventre down the right, with Ventre's pass releasing Brian Cash, whose deep cross was tapped home by Doyle.
Rovers remained on top for the rest of the half but were frustrated in the final third, with Raffaele Cretaro caught offside on a number of occasions.
The flag stayed down on 34 minutes, however, as he latched onto Blinkhorn's flick and went one-on-one with Steve Williams, but his shot lacked conviction and the keeper saved.
Five minutes before that, Boco had shown a little bit of spark to cut inside from his right-back position, but his shot flashed the wrong side of the post and wide.
Drogheda introduced Ross Gaynor at the break, and he made his presence felt on the hour-mark, when he brilliantly curled a free-kick from outside the area past Ciaran Kelly and into the Rovers net.
But Rovers' response was clinical, when Peers, who had given away the free at the other end, heading home Joe Kendrick's shortly-worked corner at the far post.
Doyle, substitute Owen Morrison and Blinkhorn all went close in the next ten minutes, while Kelly was forced to make a good save to deny Robbie Farrell and Guy Bates shot wide.
But Blinkhorn made sure of the points with ten minutes left, as he looped Morrison's cross over Williams and inside the post.
The win also sets Rovers up nicely for their Cup final against Sporting Fingal on 22 November.
Sligo Rovers: 1 Ciaran Kelly; 2 Romuald Boco, 4 Gavin Peers, 5 Alan Keane, 3 Joe Kendrick; 7 Brian Cash (15 Owen Morrison 65), 6 Conor O'Grady (12 Richie Ryan 81), 8 Danny Ventre, 11 Eoin Doyle; 9 Matthew Blinkhorn, 10 Raffaele Cretaro (14 Dean Marshall 85).
Subs not used: 13 Rob Turner, 17 Michael Schlingermann.
Drogheda United: 1 Steve Williams, 2 Scott Gibb, 5 Alan McNally, 4 Ian Ryan, 3 Robbie Clarke; 11 Brian King, 8 Paul Shields, 6 Paul Crowley (14 Darran McNamara 76), 7 Brendan McGill (12 Ross Gaynor HT); 9 Robbie Martin (13 Robbie Farrell 69), 10 Guy Bates.
Subs not used: 15 Derek Kierans, 10 Paul Skinner.
Referee: Dave McKeon (Dublin).
