A superlative display from Mark Doyle, who scored twice, destroyed Longford Town as Drogheda United comfortably won the battle of the promoted sides at Bishopsgate.
Chris Lyons and skipper on the night, Hugh Douglas, added the other goals as Drogheda's second win of the campaign moves Tim Clancy's side up to fourth in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division table.
The home side began the brighter with Joe Manley slicing wide inside four minutes after Drogheda struggled to clear a Dylan Grimes free kick.
Drogheda goalkeeper Colin McCabe then somewhat clumsily punched away a long-range free kick from Aodh Dervin with Rob Manley heading the rebound wide.
Highlights from Longford as Drogheda United come away with an impressive 4-0 win #RTEsoccer pic.twitter.com/sszrMoP5vZ
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 10, 2021
Drogheda threatened for the first time on 14 minutes, Doyle fizzing a low centre across the Town goal with Lyons just unable to get the vital touch.
Aaron Bolger then got back to make a terrific challenge to win the ball off Lyons as the Drogheda striker was about to get his shot off.
With the game remaining a little helter-skelter, Grimes found space to curl a shot narrowly wide as Town continued to shade the early exchanges.
Dervin then set up the lively Grimes whose powerful drive was inches over McCabe’s crossbar.
Doyle was proving Drogheda’s main foil, almost catching Town skipper Lee Stacey off his line with a looping header that dropped just wide from a long ball from his Douglas.
And the Drogheda striker duly got his reward to put the visitors ahead on 35 minutes, if from the most scrappy goal you might ever see.
Darragh Markey initially fed Doyle on the left who, having nutmegged Joe Manley, brought a parry save from Stacey.
And though Lyons’ follow up header was touched onto his crossbar by Stacey, Markey got a touch to the dropping ball before Doyle stabbed it over the line in a right goalmouth scramble.
Looking for an immediate response, Grimes brought a fine diving save from McCabe at the other end with a low shot from distance.
But Doyle should really have doubled Drogheda’s lead in first half stoppage time.
Gary Deegan and Lyons carved Town open to put Doyle in one-on-one. Stacey raced out smartly to make the save with his feet.
Stacey, though, was caught all at sea as Drogheda got a second goal lead six minutes after the break.
James Brown was the instigator, working a one-two with Doyle, before arcing a superb cross in for Lyons to stretch and toe into the net with Stacey inexplicably stranded at his far post.
Further poor defending cost Longford on 56 minutes as Drogheda extended their lead.
Conor Kane galloped away on the left to deliver a sublime cross.
Joe Manley completely missed the ball, allowing Doyle to get a downward header that flew into the far bottom corner.
Douglas completed the rout when meeting Ronan Murray’s free kick to head home on 67 minutes.
Longford Town: Lee Stacey; Aaron O’Driscoll, Joe Gorman, Joe Manley (Conor Davis 62); Aaron McNally (Shane Elworthy 34), Aodh Dervin, Aaron Bolger (Aaron Robinson 62), Paddy Kirk; Dylan Grimes, Karl Chambers (Callum Thompson 73); Rob Manley
Drogheda United: Colin McCabe; Hugh Douglas, Daniel O’Reilly, Dane Massey; James Brown, Gary Deegan, Darragh Markey (Jake Hyland, 59), Ronan Murray (James Clark 75), Conor Kane (Luke Heeney 67); Mark Doyle (Dinny Corcoran 75), Chris Lyons.
Referee: Graham Kelly (Cork).
