Drogheda United 1 - 2 Finn Harps

STEPHEN Parkhouse is the toast of Ballybofey as his second-half brace secured a vital three points for relegation threatened Finn Harps against Examinership-threatened Drogheda United this evening - a win that moves Harps out of the drop zone again.

Trailing at the break courtesy of a 36th minute goal by Declan O'Brien, Parkhouse fired home the equaliser on 59 minutes and then bagged the winner on 83. Neil McCafferty and Conor Gethins both has shots charged down, but after 'keeper Paul Skinner parried Gethins' effort, Parkhouse forced home what could be the most vital goal scored by the club in quite a while.

The win elevates Harps up into ninth place again, although Galway United do have a game in hand away to Derry City on Sunday evening, while Harps must travel to Terryland next Friday night for a highly important duel with Jeff Kenna's side.

The sense of relief and elation on the faces of the small pocket of travelling fans was evident at the end as they greeted a win that momentarily, at least, lifts the gloom in the North West.

From the side that lost 2-0 at home to Sligo a fortnight ago, Harps boss Paul Hegarty made four alterations to his first eleven. One enforced switch saw Shaun McGowan miss out through suspension, with Marc Mukendi, Jonathan Minnock, David Tyrell and Conor Gethins all recalled to the starting line-up.

Rookie goalkeeper Paul Skinner made his first league start for the Drogs in the absence of injured first and second choice custodians, Dan Connor and Jamie Ewings. 18-year old striker Mick Clarke continued at right back and Adam Hughes returned from suspension to start in the middle of the park, but Brian Shelley, Shane Robinson and Richie Baker all sat out through respective bans.

The visitors started well and had their chances to break the stalemate inside the first the. After just two minutes, Stephen Parkhouse shot over the crossbar from a good position after the ball fell to him from a Marc Mukendi throw in and Michael Funston's 15-yard effort had a similar result soon after when he connected with a Tyrell cross.

Perhaps the best opening for Harps came when Neil McCafferty's inswinging free kick evaded everyone in a crowded penalty box bar Declan Boyle, but it too was off target.

The Drogs forced a good opening on 20 minutes when Kendrick's overlapping run saw him collect possession off Ollie Cahill and deliver a teasing cross that Adam Hughes headed goalward, but James Gallagher got across well to save. Gallagher then collected a shot from O'Brien at the second attempt after spilling his initial shot.

After half-an-hour and with a notable lack of a significant threat in attack, Harps reverted to 4-4-2 having started with a 4-5-1, Conor Gethins going up to partner Parkhouse and Funston reverting to the right flank.

But just six minutes later, the Donegal side found themselves trailing. Fahrudin Kuduzovic's shot deceived Gallagher and skipper Declan O'Brien nipped in to score from close range. Inside a minute, it could have been two only for Gallagher saving well from Ristilla.

Stuart Malcolm had a flicked header cleared from the goal-line after the break, but on the stroke of the hour mark, Harps drew level. Stephen Parkhouse scored some vital goals in the promotion winning term last year and it was the big Derry man who connected with Neil McCafferty's chip to level matters tonight, prodding home at the far post to raise the spirits of the travelling fans.

Declan Boyle headed wide at one end before Gallagher was forced into conceding a corner from a thunderous blast by Kuduzovic at the other while the Harps netminder did well to get down to a shot from O'Brien. Seven minutes from the end, Parkhouse sealed victory when his determination saw him fire home at the back post and bag Harps' first win of the campaign over a top-five team this season.

Drogheda United: Paul Skinner; Mick Clarke, John Tambouras, Shaun Maher, Joe Kendrick; Fahrudin Kuduzovic, Paul Keegan, Adam Hughes, Ollie Cahill; Declan O'Brien, Sami Ristilla (Eamon Zayed 55).
Subs not used: Guy Bates, Shaun Williams, Gareth Whelan, Ibrahima Iyane Thiam.

Finn Harps: James Gallagher; Marc Mukendi, Jonathan Minnock, Stuart Malcolm, Shaun Holmes; Michael Funston, Declan Boyle, Neil McCafferty, David Tyrell (Chris Breen 76); Stephen Parkhouse, Conor Gethins (Gary Beckett 86).
Subs not used: Gavin Cullen, Austin Friel, Johnny Havlin.

Referee: Anthony Buttimer (Cork).

Attendance: 500 (estimate).