| Foy-wonder strike in injury time gives Rovers share of spoils in Drogheda |
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| Sunday, 13 August 2006 | |
 A Keith Foy wonderstrike in the ninety fourth minute added to Adam Hughes second half goal to give Rovers a share of the spoils against Drogheda in United Park on Friday night (11 Aug)
Drogheda United 2 - Sligo Rovers 2United Park Drogheda, Fri Aug 11 2006 By Keith O'Dwyer, courtesy The Sligo Weekender Despite being outplayed for much of Sunday’s eircom League Premier Division game against Drogheda United, Sligo Rovers left United Park with a point thanks to their very own version of the late, late show as Keith Foy scored a dramatic 94th minute equaliser. Rovers went into the game without their central midfield pairing of Conor O’Grady and Chris Turner. Turner was on duty with Northern Ireland’s U-21 side while O’Grady was suspended. Liam Burns was back from suspension and he came in for Jamie McKenzie, while Rovers manager Sean Connor re-jigged the midfield. Harpal Singh and Gary Curran featured alongside Brian Cash, Fahrudin Kudozovic and Adam Hughes in a five-man midfield as Rovers started with a 4-5-1 formation – with Darren Mansaram as the lone striker. The home side dominated the opening half. They created their first chance after two minutes when Shane Robinson put in a bobbling cross from the right – which wasn’t dealt with – and the ball came through to James Keddy, who shot over on the turn. Robinson had a chance in the 17th minute when Cash failed to clear his lines and lost control of the ball and the Drogheda player’s first-time strike with the outside of his foot was wide of the upright. Drogheda should have taken the lead in the 20th minute. Simon Webb sent in a cross from the left long into the box where the ball was headed on by Robinson to Tony Grant, whose close-range header was kept out by a brave block from Rovers goalkeeper Richard Brush. Five minutes later Drogheda went close again as Robinson took a throw-in quickly on the right. He sent the ball into Tony Grant who then released Stephen Bradley and his goalbound shot was cleared away from the line by Gavin Peers. After being on the backfoot for so long, Rovers finished the first-half on the offensive and nearly took a shock lead on the stroke of half-time. Harpal Singh played in a good ball from the left which was met by Darren Mansaram but Drogheda centre-half Graham Gartland got enough on the ball to take the sting off it and make it a comfortable save for his goalkeeper, Dan Connor. Two minutes into the second-half Drogheda took the lead as Graham Gartland played a long diagonal ball out of defence (from left to right) to Shane Barrett, who was able to chest the ball down before curling it a right-footed shot inside the post past the unsighted Brush. Keith Foy had a chance to level things for Rovers in the 50th minutes after Harpal Singh was fouled 20 yards from goal. The full-back took the resulting free-kick but his well-struck effort was beaten away by Dan Connor. Drogheda threatened again in the 53rd minute. Brian Shelly sent Robinson racing down the right and he crossed into the box to find James Keddy, who had timed his run well but he guided his header over Brush’s crossbar. Rovers made their first change in the 58th minute as striker Choice Aisien replaced Harpal Singh and Rovers switched to a more conventional 4-4-2 formation. Six minutes later they equalised. The ball was played out to the left to Kudozovic who took on – and beat – Brian Shelly before playing a perfectly-weighted ball across to Adam Hughes and his first-time strike flew into the top corner off the underside of the crossbar. The sides were only level for three minutes, however, as Drogheda won a free-kick on the left. It was taken by Shane Robinson who sent it into the heart of the Rovers penalty area where Gartland rose to head home. They nearly added a third in the 73rd minute as the same two players combined again, this time Robinson took a corner on the right and Gartland’s header was kept out by a great reaction save from Richard Brush. Brush was called into action again a minute later as he was forced to make a full-stretch stop to keep out a long range strike from Barrett. Rovers were forced into making a second change in the 85th minute as Jamie McKenzie came on for Curran who had to go off with a foot injury. Mansaram went close to equalising for Rovers in the 86th minute when he picked up the ball on the left and shot for goal. The striker nearly caught Connor unawares, but the Drogheda goalkeeper recovered to parry the ball away. Drogheda looked as if they had done enough to claim the three points but in the 94th minute the ball was played into their penalty area from the right and cleared out as far as Foy who took a touch before shooting from 25 yards. The ball flew into the net past the despairing hand of Connor – much to the delight of the Rovers’ players, supporters and management. Player of the Match: Shane Robinson Drogheda United: Dan Connor, Brian Shelly, Simon Webb, Jason Gavin, Graham Gartland, Shane Robinson, Damian Lynch, Tony Grant (Glen Fitzpatrick 35), Stephen Bradley (Gavin Whelan 65), Shane Barrett (Steven Gray 93), James Keddy Subs not used: Sami Ristila, Charles Treacy Sligo Rovers: Richard Brush, Gavin Peers, Keith Foy, Michael McNamara, Liam Burns, Adam Hughes, Fahrudin Kudozovic, Gary Curran (Jamie McKenzie 85), Harpal Singh (Choice Aisien 58), Brian Cash, Darren Mansaram Subs not used: Matthew Judge, Sean Kelly, John O’Hara |
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