| Rovers maintain unbeaten run in Showgrounds |
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| Monday, 15 May 2006 | |
 Sligo Rovers continued their unbeaten home record on Saturday night thanks to a scoreless draw against eircom Premier Division league leaders, Drogheda United at The Showgrounds.Report by Daragh Cox, courtesy, The Sligo Weekender Soccer: Rovers bring losing sequence to an end with an upbeat draw By: Darragh Cox, The Showgrounds eircom League Premier Division Sligo Rovers 1, Drogheda United 1 Sligo Rovers bounced back from three defeats on the trot to earn a hugely impressive point against top-of-the-table Drogheda United at The Showgrounds on Saturday evening last. The result, the second scoreless game Rovers have been involved in all season, maintains the Bit O’Red’s unbeaten home record in the eircom League this season and brings them up to eighth in the Premier Division table ahead of this Sunday’s trip to bottom club Bray Wanderers. Rovers were without strikers Darren Mansaram, suspended, and Sean Flannery, injured, while illness victim Adam Hughes was only fit to start on the bench. This presented the opportunity for Gary Curran to return to the starting 11 and, in all, Sean Connor made five changes to the team beaten by Finn Harps in the eircom League Cup during the week. Midfielder Hughes came on at the interval for Curran and typically brought Rovers to life as an attacking unit. The Australian also had the best chance of the game when Fahrudin Kudozovic’s cross, created by Matthew Judge’s trickery in the 56th minute, picked him out in the box. Had he been on the pitch longer, Hughes would surely have scored, but he had not found his touch at this stage and his effort was blocked by Drogheda full-back Simon Webb. Prior to this, Drogheda had the better chances to open the scoring after an entertaining first-half. Lively striker Glen Fitzpatrick set up Republic of Ireland U-21 international Paul Keegan on five minutes but his effort dropped just over the bar. A moment’s hesitancy from Rovers captain Michael McNamara let Fitzpatrick through on goal soon after, but ‘Player of the Match’ John O’Hara was quickly out from his goal to deny the former Shelbourne striker. O’Hara, in fact, would go on to make a string of impressive saves. The best stop was saved for the 41st minute, when winger Keith Fahey latched onto the ball following a block by Gavin Peers, and sent a stinging effort towards the top corner, before O’Hara palmed it over the top. Rovers’ best chance was a snapshot on the volley from Matthew Judge in the 18th minute, which Drogheda goalkeeper Dan Connor gathered at the second attempt. Amazingly, goalkeeper Connor had an attempt at goal himself when he tried to catch out his counterpart O’Hara with a quick free-kick from midway through his own half on 57 minutes, but the effort was marginally too high. Keegan then pulled another save off O’Hara with a shot from the edge of the box before Drogheda brought on Shane Robinson and club captain Declan O’Brien in the last 20 minutes to try and find that elusive goal. Robinson almost broke the deadlock when he connected with Fahey’s cross but O’Hara was well-positioned once again. Judge tested Dan Connor once again on 73 minutes with an effort from the edge of the box after a swift counter-attack, but with Paul McTiernan and Conor O’Grady in good support, the move had a disappointing conclusion. This proved Judge’s last involvement as Rovers manager Sean Connor handed a debut to 18-year-old striker John Bellew and he served to re-invigorate the home side one final time. The impressive Chris Turner could have put either Bellew or Peers in a good position for a cross in the final 10 minutes but his own eventual delivery disappointed, while Foy’s inswinging free from the right-hand side served as neither a shot nor a cross. With former Republic of Ireland international Jason Gavin a towering presence at the back throughout for the big-spending visitors, chances were at a premium anyway, and both sides ended up happy to settle for a share of the spoils. Player of the Match: John O’Hara Sligo Rovers: John O’Hara, Gavin Peers, Michael McNamara (c), Liam Burns, Keith Foy, Fahrudin Kudozovic (Jason McCartney 82), Chris Turner, Conor O’Grady, Gary Curran (Adam Hughes 45), Matthew Judge (John Bellew 80), Paul McTiernan Subs not used: Richard Brush, Jamie McKenzie, Jason McCartney, John Bellew Drogheda United: Dan Connor, Brian Shelley, Steve Gray, Jason Gavin, Simon Webb, Keith Fahey, Damien Lynch, Paul Keegan (Shane Robinson 75), James Keddy, Glen Fitzpatrick (Declan O’Brien 70), Mark Leech (Shane Barrett 51) Subs not used: Gavin Whelan, Charlie Tracy Referee: Declan Hanney Michael Melly's match photos are now available in the gallery section |
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