Drogheda United's nine-match winless run is well and truly behind them as Mark Doyle’s first-half goal secured a second straight victory at home to Sligo Rovers.
It is a big result in more ways than one, with Sligo slipping to defeat after a four game unbeaten stretch that included three wins on the bounce.
They won’t rue missed opportunities on their long journey back west. John Russell’s side simply didn’t create enough to warrant taking anything from the game. Drogheda deserved their victory.
Drogheda made two changes from the side that begun last Friday night’s stunning come-from-behind victory against Shelbourne. Shane Farrell and Doyle replaced Jago Godden and Dare Kareem.
For Russell, with his team on a three-match winning streak, only the enforced injury absence of Jeannot Esua changed his hand with Sean Stewart coming in to replace the Cameroonian defender.
At least Sligo could count on their upturn in results of late in their favour as they arrived on the Windmill Road. Their record at Drogheda did not make for pleasant reading – winless in eight and losers of the last three, without troubling the scoresheet.
That gave Kevin Doherty hope that last the win at Tolka Park was more than an aberration and could be built upon on home soil seven days on.
Just days before Drogheda’s travelling supporters will mark their return to LOI stadia – in Tallaght Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday – there were flares lit in the stand to greet the players onto the pitch.
That was despite the club pre-empting this weekend’s double header with a firm statement promising 'immediate and possibly indefinite stadium bans’ for those found with pyrotechnics. This issue isn’t going away.
The game’s only goal arrived on 14 minutes. Brandon Kavanagh’s corner was not cleared and after Conor Keeley turned the ball goalwards, Doyle helped it over the line from a yard or so out.
From approximately a yard from goal, it is unlikely he’ll find the net from closer in this season. He still required two attempts at the finish though, after Sam Sargeant saved initially when the ball dropped loose from Brandon Kavanagh’s corner.
All Sligo could muster was a pair of headers either side of half-time that hardly troubled Flynn Talley, the Englishman in the Drogheda goal.
Thomas Oluwa should have sealed victory for Drogheda late in the day, but couldn’t keep his volley low. It was the perfect height for Sargeant.
Sligo had possession and pressure, of sorts, late on but nothing came of it.
Drogheda United: Flynn Talley; Edwin Agbaje, Andrew Quinn, Conor Keeley, Conor Kane; Ryan Brennan, Shane Farrell; Warren Davis (Jason Bucknor, 81), Brandon Kavanagh (Jago Godden, 61), Thomas Oluwa; Mark Doyle (Kieran Cruise, 71).
Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Sean McHale, Gareth McElroy, Ollie Denham, Sean Stewart (Alex Nolan, 75); Carl McHugh, James McManus; Archie Meekison; Daire Patton (Mai Traore, 82), Cian Kananagh, Will Fitzgerald.
Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan
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