Sligo Rovers 4 - 1 Drogheda United

• Alan Finn
• Sat, Aug 04 2012




Sligo Rovers extended their lead at the top of the Airtricity Premier Division to four points, with a game in hand, after beating second placed Drogheda United 4-1 in The Showgrounds on Saturday evening.


The League leaders enjoyed a very bright start, and opened the scoring after just ten minutes through the man in form, Mark Quigley. Seamus Conneely passed to Pascal Millien on the edge of the box, who returned the ball to Conneely with a quick backheel before the former Galway United man sent a low ball into the box for Mark Quigley. The striker placed a great effort into the bottom right corner.

Ross Gaynor came close to extending his side's lead just after the half-hour mark when he tried his luck from well outside the box, but was denied by a tremendous Gabriel Sava save.

Joseph Ndo really should have scored minutes later when Mark Quigley chipped a ball into the box for the Cameroon man but he was quickly surrounded by defenders, making it difficult for him to get a shot away.

Rovers finally got the two goal lead they deserved three minutes from the break when Romauld Boco's long range effort was spilled by Sava, and Seamus Conneely was on hand to put the ball into the back of the net.

The home side continued to dominate this game and further extended their lead on the hour mark. Mark Quigley released Ndo who rounded Sava and chipped a ball in for Romauld Boco who headed home from close range.

Drogheda finally had their first shot in anger after 70 minutes when a ball fell to Peter Hynes on the edge of the box who almost found the bottom right corner, but Gary Rogers was equal to it with a great save to push it beyond the post. The visitors did pull one back in the 76th minute when Peter Hynes met a Gavin Brennan cross to head beyond the reach of Gary Rogers.

Rovers were soon back to a three goal lead however with ten minutes to go when Joseph Ndo received the ball from Rafael Cretaro and scored after his effort nicked off Sava and went into the roof of the net.

 


Sligo Rovers: Gary Rogers; Alan Keane, Jason McGuinness, Gavin Peers, Ross Gaynor; Romauld Boco, David Cawley (Lee Lynch 84), Joseph Ndo, Seamus Conneely (Ryan Connolly 56); Pascal Millien (Rafael Cretaro 64), Mark Quigley,
Subs not used: Richard Brush, Iarfhlaith Davoren, Jeff Henderson, John Dillon.

Bookings: Gaynor (17), Cawley (45).

Drogheda United: Gabriel Sava; Conor McMahon, Alan McNally, Alan Byrne, Philip Hand; Cathal Brady (Peter Hynes 46), Paul Crowley, Eric Foley (John Sullivan 64), Ryan Brennan, Gavin Brennan (Sean Brennan 46); Declan O'Brien.
Subs not used: Michael Schlingermann, Stephen Quigley, Tiarnan Mulvenna, Jason Marks.

Bookings: McMahon (3), G Brennan (40), Crowley (69).

Referee: Alan Kelly.
Attendance: 2,550
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Romauld Boco (Sligo Rovers).