- David Wilson
- Sat, Oct 02 2021
David Wilson reports from Head in the Game Park
A stunning strike from Alfie Lewis in the 94th minute meant that all three points headed to Richmond Park despite a spirited Drogheda United performance at Head in the Game Park on Friday night.
The former West Ham player broke the hearts of the home side but was the most impressive player on the pitch as he dictated proceedings from a deep lying midfield role for most of the game as the Saints ran out 1-0 winners.
The first half was very much the case of both sides cancelling each other out. Drogheda’s 3-4-3 formation caused some issues for the Athletic but their 4-3-3 coped relatively well.
The first chance of the game fell to the home side as Killian Phillips pounced on a poor Paddy Barrett pass into midfield and immediately set Mark Doyle away down the inside left channel. Doyle skipped inside but James Abankwah blocked well for the Saints after just seven minutes.
In the 21st minute the dangerous Darragh Burns slipped Chris Forrester in down the right channel but the midfielder dragged his effort wide of the far post from a tight angle five yards inside the box.
Just after the half hour mark the game broke into life. The impressive Burns sped away on the counterattack but failed to find Forrester with a through ball.
United won the ball back immediately as Conor Kane sent Doyle away down the left, but the 17-year-old Abankwah came across and cleared well.
The game played without any major incidents for the rest of the half until Phillips flashed over from the edge of the box right on halftime.
Eight minutes into the second period, Saints’ centre forward Ronan Coughlan had a fantastic opportunity to break the deadlock. Lewis did superbly well to win the ball back 30 yards from goal, the Englishman found Burns out wide who crossed for Coughlan, but he headed straight at Odumosu from eight yards out.
Two minutes later, the visitors won the ball back high up the pitch with Coughlan finding Mattie Smith, but he curled his effort harmlessly into the gloves of Odumosu.
Only basement side Longford Town are in worse form than the Boynesiders. Tim Clancy’s side failed to impose themselves in attacking sense, struggling to keep hold of the ball in the final third.
Chances were at a premium as both sides’ defences were on top. Substitute Ben McCormack headed straight at Odumosu once more when the youngster really should have directed his header better.
The Athletic were doing all the pressing and were finally rewarded in the dying seconds of the game. Shane Griffin crossed from the left, Drogheda failed to clear, and McCormack teed up Lewis who struck his effort on a slight bounce straight into the top corner.
St Patrick’s Athletic will now look to cement their European ambitions and prevent Shamrock Rovers from claiming the title as long as possible.
Drogheda will be looking nervously below them as two losses in a row has the claret and blue drifting nervously toward the relegation playoff spot.
Drogheda United: David Odumosu (GK); James Brown (C), Daniel O’Reilly, Joe Redmond, Dane Massey, Conor Kane; Killian Phillips, Luke Heeney (Ronan Murray 83); James Clarke (Darragh Markey 56), Jordan Adeyemo (Chris Lyons 57); Mark Doyle
Subs not used: Colin McCabe (GK), Dinny Corcoran, Mohammed Boudiaf, Charles Mutawe, Abu Obhakhan, Kaleem Simon
Booked: Conor Kane 73
St Patricks Athletic: Vit Jaros (GK); Sam Bone, Paddy Barrett, James Abankwah (Lee Desmond 65), Shane Griffin; Alfie Lewis, Chris Forrester (C) (Ben McCormack 73), Jamie Lennon (Kyrian Nwoko 88); Mattie Smith, Darragh Burns; Ronan Coughlan (Billy King 73)
Subs not used: Barry Murphy (GK), James McClelland, Nahum Melvin-Lambert, Jak Hickman, Kian Corbally
Booked: Ben McCormack 79
Referee: Damien McGrath
Extratime.com man of the match: Alfie Lewis (St Patrick Athletic)
