Tireless Oki inspired as battling Boys take points
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DROGHEDA Boys Under-15s recently put six goals past hosts St Francis without reply and they continued that form when overcoming Arklow Town at Rathmullen last Saturday.
This was the return fixture from the opening game of the season and Drogheda attacked from the outset. For the first 20 minutes the midfield trio of Aaron Smith, Dipo Dele and Alan Beattie controlled the tempo of the game with a combination of slick passing through the middle and tenacious tackling which unsettled the Arklow midfield.
Fola Oki in the centre-forward position was pulling the opposition defence left and right and that allowed Drogheda to create a number of chances which they came close to converting.
Indeed, the Arklow goal led a charmed life in those 20 minutes, so it was very much against the run of play when the Wicklow side snatched the lead following their first foray up the pitch.
During the next 10 minutes Arklow threatened to add to their advantage, but strong work by the Drogheda defence of Taju Adigun, Hugh McClean, Sean Collier and Ewan Sweeney helped keep the hosts in the game.
Then on 32 minutes creative work by Taju on the left released Oki at the edge of the penalty area and he turned and passed to Frank McClean who danced around the keeper to put Drogheda level.
The second half saw no letup from the home side as they continued to have the initiative and play their usual high-tempo passing game.
On 49 minutes they were rewarded when Oki, who was tireless in attack throughout, pounced on a mix-up in the Arklow defence to put the ball past their keeper from six yards out for the lead goal.
This gave added momentum to Drogheda and just three minutes later Aaron Lawler was released on the right wing by Smith and whipped a wonderful diagonal ball onto the onrushing Oki who headed in from six yards out.
Drogheda continued to press and create chances and finished as strongly as they began, with Arklow unable to conjure a goal that might have set up a nervy finish.