League Report: Drogheda United 2 - 2 Athlone Town

An injury time goal from Marco Chindea meant Drogheda United and Athlone Town played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in United Park on Friday night.

Sean Thornton opened the scoring for Drogheda on 37 minutes whilst Athlone substitute before Conor Barry pulled the visitors level for the first time midway through the second half. The home side then thought they’d sealed the victory when Jake Hyland scored with a minute of normal time remaining only for Marco Chindea to fire home and earn his side a very valuable point thanks to his 91^st minute strike.

Drogheda United came into the game on the back of a 2-1 home win over Waterford United and an away 1-1 draw against Cobh Ramblers. Pete Mahon made two changes to his starting line-up with Sean Dunne and Adam Wixted coming in for Derek Doyle and Sam O’Connor.

Floodlight failure in Athlone Town Stadium last week meant the visitors only League of Ireland outing this season was a 2-1 loss to Cabinteely. The Midlanders manager, Alan Mathews made two changes from their opening League fixture – Simon Dixon and Cian O’Sullivan dropping to the bench with Calvin Douglas and Adam Kelly starting.

Much like their previous home game, Drogheda United started the better of the sides and created most of the early goal scoring opportunities. With six minutes gone Adam Wixted’s cross was met by the head of the leaping Eoin Kirwan but his well won header ran narrowly wide of Evan Moran’s goal.

Jake Hyland went close twelve minutes later as his shot from distance ran wide of the right hand post. Almost straight afterwards Kirwan dispossessed an Athlone player but his shot from 25 yards out lacked the sufficient power required to beat Moran as the keeper saved with ease.

With 23 minutes gone, Sean Thornton cut into the box after a powerful run from midfield but his attempt to cut the ball back across the keeper and into the left corner of the goal was well saved by Moran.

Athlone sole forward Emeka Onwubiko worked hard all night and midway through the first half his cross found Marco Chindea with some time and space in the box but the Athlone midfielder lost his footing and with it the chance.

The deadlock was finally broken on 37 minutes when a cross from the left into the box from Colm Deasy was met by the head of Sean Thornton, scoring his second in two games. Unfortunately for Thornton and the home side, the former Sunderland midfielder was subsequently stretchered off having injured himself in the process of scoring.

Cries from the home crowd for a red card to be flashed by referee Rob Hennessey rang out just past the hour mark. A heavy tackle by Chindea in the middle of the pitch was worthy of the yellow he was shown but, immediately after the tackle on Aaron Molloy, the former St Pats midfielder shoved Molloy in front of the ref but no further action was taken.  

Having failed to take many chances to double their lead, Drogheda United found themselves back level on 67 minutes. Athlone Town substitute Conor Barry latched onto a ball crossed in by Adam Kelly to head home and draw the visitors’ level.

With only a minute of normal time remaining the home side thought they’d won it. A lovely move ended with sub Mark Griffin firing a ball low into the box as an onrushing Jake Hyland connected and blasted it high into the roof of the net.

The Drogs faithful barely had time to process the goal when Athlone Town struck back. Goalscorer Conor Barry turned provider as his long ball into the box was well controlled by Chindea and he side footed between the keepers legs and into the net to earn his side a point.

Drogheda United’s next outing is against Bluebell United on Monday in the EA Sports Cup (KO 7.45pm United Park) whilst Athlone Town have a League match to look forward to against Limerick in Athlone Town Stadium on the 26^th of March.

Drogheda United: Patrick Dunican; Luke Gallagher, Stephen Dunne, Niall Cooney, Colm Deasy; Eoin Kirwan, Sean Thornton (Sean Brennan 40), Aaron Molloy, Jake Hyland, Adam Wixted (Marc Griffin 68); Aaron Ashe (Mark Doyle 84)

Subs Not Used: Stephen McGuinness, Joseph Jackson, Kenneth Costello, Lloyd Buckley

Booked: Aaron Molloy (40), Sean Brennan (63)

Athlone Town: Evan Moran; Jack Tuite, Ian Fletcher, Kevin Farragher, Calvin Douglas; Adam Kelly (Simon Dixon 74), Val Feeney, Daniel Purdy (Conor Barry 58), David Cassidy, Marco Chindea; Emeka Onwubiko (Alan O’Sullivan)

Subs Not Used: Cian O’Sullivan, Sean Nolan, Daniel Molloy, Daryl Carrigy

Booked: Emeka Onwubiko (42), Marco Chindea (62)

Referee: Robert Hennessey

Attendance: 564.

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Aaron Molloy (Drogheda United)

Larry McQuillan's pictures from the game can be viewed here.