Daniel North hit a goal in each half in the top-of-the-table Airtricity League clash at Hunky Dorys Park as leaders Sligo Rovers ended Drogheda’s 10-match unbeaten run with a 3-1 victory.
Gavin Peers opened the scoring for Rovers when following up a Jason McGuinness header on 10 minutes. The visitors extended the lead on 35 minutes when North flicked a Ross Gaynor cross home.
Declan O’Brien replied for the home side, but North made sure of the three points when finishing from close range late on.
Ian Baraclough’s men quickly grabbed this game by the scruff of the neck and forced three corners inside the first 10 minutes.
They almost broke the deadlock when Peers nodded Raffaele Cretaro’s centre goal-wards and North flicked the ball narrowly wide at the far post.
Mark Quigley then saw a 30-yard effort deflected narrowly wide, and so it was no surprise when the Bit O’Red hit the front. Cretaro swung in another corner and McGuinness’ initial header was blocked on the line by Derek Prendergast, but Peers stooped to nod the rebound past Gabriel Sava.
The keeper then failed to hold a driven cross by Gaynor towards North and he was saved by left-back Shane Grimes who booted the ball clear.
Drogheda had a decent spell mid-way through the half when Sean Brennan – the only one of the brothers playing as sickness ruled out his siblings Ryan and Gavin – and Declan O’Brien had shots blocked in the crowded Sligo goal mouth, but the visitors extended their lead on 35 minutes.
David Cawley swung a great diagonal pass out to Gaynor and another superb cross from the winger reached North who flicked a classy finish past Sava.
However, just when the game seemed to be slipping away from the home side, O’Brien popped up at the near post to nod past Gary Rogers from Shane Grimes’ left-wing cross.
And it was O’Brien who almost hauled Drogheda level on 58 minutes, his diving header from Brian Gannon’s near-post cross flying a foot wide of the opposite upright.
But the Boynesiders couldn’t open up the Sligo defence after that and the visitors effectively sealed the points with a third goal on 80 minutes, North tucking the ball away from close range from a clever Quigley pass.
Drogheda United: Gabriel Sava; Stephen Quigley, Alan McNally, Derek Prendergast, Shane Grimes; Tiarnan Mulvenna (Cathal Brady 72), Brian Gannon, Eric Foley, Mark O’Brien (Peter Hynes 77), Sean Brennan (Dean Marshall 88); Declan O’Brien.
Sligo Rovers: Gary Rogers; Romauld Boco, Gavin Peers, Jason McGuinness, Iarfhlaith Davoren; Raffaele Cretaro, Danny Ventre, David Cawley, Ross Gaynor; Mark Quigley (Lee Lynch 90 +1), Daniel North.
Referee: Damien Hancock (Dublin).
