League Report: Drogheda United 0 - 1 Dundalk

Dundalk earned their first win in four attempts away to Drogheda United as Conor Malley’s superbly taken goal saw the Lilywhites close the gap on Bohemians to the minimum at the top of the Premier Division.

Malley opened his body up beautifully to curl past Colin McCabe in the 65th minute for his first goal of the season and the finish was as good as the assist after Rayhaan Tulloch’s dazzling footwork in the area created the chance.

That was the only shot on target for Stephen O’Donnell’s side who had Nathan Shepperd to thank late on for a brilliant save to deny 18-year-old Freddie Draper from the spot who unfortunately had to be stretchered off in added time.

It was a case of missed chances for Drogheda who were aiming to win four in row at home against their neighbours, as they fell to their first defeat at Weavers Park this term.

Both teams emerged into a feverish atmosphere with kick off delayed momentarily after pyrotechnics engulfed the pitch.

After a very uninspiring opening quarter, Drogheda seized control and should have gone into the interval at least a goal to the good.

Left winger, Dayle Rooney’s influence grew as the half went on, hitting the target with a brace of snap shot efforts.

Moments later he won the ball high up the pitch and went on a bursting individual run before his piercing shot fizzed wide of Shepperd’s post.

The best chance of the half surely fell to Darragh Markey and it was all his own work.

Having dispossessed Andy Boyle on the edge of the box, he was left one on one with Shepperd and in truth he never looked like scoring, blazing over the bar as Boyle offered the apologetic hand to his teammates.

It was constant claret pressure until the whistle with Freddie Draper having a header cleared off the line from a corner after Evan Weir had a goal bound strike inside the box diverted away.

Kevin Doherty went into the changing room seething after Draper was denied a spot kick on the whistle.

His side though, started the second half as they had finished the first, with wave after wave of attack, leading to a host of corners.

Weir will wonder how he hit the post from point blank range via a deflection with the second half two minutes old while Rooney almost found the far corner twice from threatening crosses.

The first major flashpoint of the game came in the 49th minute as last week’s match winner Emmanuel Adegboyega was given a yellow for a thunderous challenge on Pat Hoban. In truth, the centre back was fortunate not to see red after a wild swipe near the touchline.

The hour ticked by and Dundalk still hadn’t landed a punch with McCabe cutting a mere spectator in the Drogs goal.

And he was a spectator again four minutes later as Malley curled the ball into the far corner, leaving McCabe rooted to the spot and sending the Dundalk support into raptures.

Malley was indebted to fellow new signing Rayhaan Tulloch who showed all his quality with some dazzling feet to bamboozle the Drogheda defence and tee up the midfielder.

The hosts kept their tails up and Rooney was inches away from levelling affairs with a James Ward Prowse esque free kick, but it just evaded the top corner.

With five minutes remaining Markey earned his side a penalty when he was taken down by Wasiri Williams after some superb control in the box. Destined to fire a left-footed shot on goal, Williams took him down.

However, it just wasn’t meant to be for Drogheda and Shepperd proved his weight in gold with a sensational save from Draper’s penalty. The Welsh U21 international spread all of his body to keep the ball out low to his left.

The Lincoln youngster was unfortunately stretchered off with what looked like a serious injury after a long stoppage as the clock ticked over the 90.

Substitute Robbie Benson almost put the icing on the cake but he smashed the bar via a deflection after a neat pull back from Malley.

Drogheda United: Colin McCabe; Emmanuel Adegboyega, Conor Keeley, Evan Weir; Elicha Ahiu (Michael Leddy 84), Ryan Brennan, Gary Deegan, Dylan Grimes, Darragh Markey, Dayle Rooney; Freddie Draper (Warren Davis 90).

Subs not used: Fiachra Pagel, Jarlath Jones, Aaron McNally, Sean Brennan, Darragh Noone, Emre Topcu, Luke Heeney.

Booked: Emmanuel Adegboyega (48), Darragh Markey (64).

Dundalk: Nathan Shepperd; Andy Boyle, Archie Davies, Darragh Leahy, Wasiri Williams; Connor Malley, Greg Sloggett (Hayden Muller 90), Johannes Yli-Kokko (Ryan O'Kane 57); Cameron Elliott (Alfie Lewis 57), Patrick Hoban (John Martin 75), Rayhaan Tulloch (Robbie Benson 81).

Subs not used: Mark Byrne, Peter Cherrie, Anthony Moyo, Keith Ward.
Booked: Greg Sloggett (71), Wasiri Williams (85).

Referee: Paul McLaughlin

Attendance: 2193

extratime.com Player of the Match: Nathan Shepperd (Dundalk).