Drogheda remain in a real rut
Drogheda Utd 0 Limerick 2
WHEN you are in the sort of rut that Drogheda United currently find themselves in, you need all the help you can get it. On Friday evening against Limerick, it wasn’t forthcoming.
Minutes after Limerick saw a goal disallowed for offside, the Boynesiders fell foul of a controversial decision. When Robbie Williams headed in at the back post, linesman Darren Carey raised his flag. Refereee Rob Harvey had other ideas and overruled his assistant.
That opener was added to late on to compound Drogheda misery. Something had to give at United Park – given that Pete Mahon’s team had scored just once in seven games at kick off, while Limerick had failed to keep a clean sheet in 13 outings.
By full time, it was Neil McDonald who saw his side ride themselves of their unwanted record. Drogheda didn’t put up much of a fight, certainly as a attacking threat. The defeat marks the end of a sequence of matches against clubs sitting reasonably comfortable in the top seven of the division.
Three points – courtesy of goalless draws against Bray, Derry and Bohemians – from that run has left Drogheda firmly in the mire. The emphasis now shifts to successive matches against direct relegation rivals. Now possessing the Premier Division’s most profligate forward line and leakiest defence, improvement is vital over the next four weeks.
Limerick visited United Park on Friday evening with a mixed record against the bottom five clubs this season.
The two sides were promoted together last year but the Shannonsiders have, as probably expected, looked more equipped to compete in the top flight. Their defensive issues have been covered up by an efficient forward line which includes Brazilian Rodrigo Tosi and the youngster Chiedozie Ogbene.
That duo both scored in Limerick’s 3-0 win over Drogheda at Marketsfield in April and started again on Friday, with 15 league goals between them. Ryan Masterson and Mark Doyle lead the United line. Neither have found the net this term.
Doyle went closest of the pair against the Blues but it was a rare glimpse of goal in an error-strewn display across the park. Limerick started the better and had the ball in the net during the first real attack of the game after nine minutes.
Dean Clarke ran unchallenged through the non-existent Drogheda midfield and burst into the area. He scuffed his shot and as it trickled across the area towards Ogbene, Luke Gallagher stuck out a leg and diverted the ball into the corner of the goal. Assistant referee Carey was quick to raise his flag with the former Cork City player adjudged to be offside.
The game’s pivotal moment arrived three minutes later and this time the home side were on the wrong end of an offside decision. Lee Lynch sent in a free kick from 12 yards inside the Drogheda half, which Tosi flicked on. Centre back Williams found himself free at the back post and headed beyond Stephen McGuinness.
Limerick celebrations were immediately cut short as Carey again raised his flag. However, referee Harvey was of a different opinion and instead signalled for a restart. Drogheda protests, led by Sean Brennan, fell on deaf ears.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether Harvey felt the flick on came from a Drogheda head or he felt Williams was in fact onside but Tosi appeared to win the ball cleanly and linesman Carey was near side and well positioned to make a call.
Just after the 20 minute mark, Limerick went close to doubling their lead. Williams almost claimed his second but blazed over from close range. He was totally unmarked in the area.
As the sun came out, the outlook for Drogheda improved as the half wore on. A good move on the edge of the area involving Doyle and Masterson ended when Shaun Kelly handled just outside the box. The Limerick right back was booked and after a long conflab, Brennan drilled the free kick against the wall.
The best Drogheda chance of the first half – and the game as it turned out – arrived with 39 minutes remaining. Brennan, who was operating in a wide right role, delivered a ball to the back post. Ciaran McGuigan met it with a firm header back across goal but Brendan Clarke produced a fine save to deny the defender.
On the stroke of half time, a quick Drogheda breakaway did give the crowd some more cause for hope. Adam Wixted played a ball down the left flank for Master-
son. The striker turned rolled Tony Whitehead and fed Doyle, who found Brennan. Always looking to shoot, his effort was charged down.
By the restart, Mahon had used two of his substitutes. Sean Thornton was introduced for Richie Purdy at half time. Purdy has suffered a reoccurrence of a hamstring injury that has troubled him this season while Colm Deasy was withdrawn in the opening 45. Shane Elworthy replaced him.
Like in the first half, Dean Clarke had the first sight of goal in the second. Ogbene’s Crossfield ball found the ex-Shamrock Rovers man but he shot high and wide from an excellent position in the area.
Drogheda were chasing the game on home soil but Limerick were having the better of things. Tosi’s header from a Lynch cross was no trouble for McGuinness and then the goalkeeper had a nervy moment as he came to collect another Lynch ball into the area.
Drogheda’s best moment of the second half came via Doyle. The teenager skipped past Whitehead and Bastien Hery but his shot was wide of Clarke’s post. With four minutes remaining, slim hopes of a Drogheda equaliser were extinguished.
Garbhan Coughlan capitalised on some hesitant defending. The United back line allowed a forward ball to bounce and the substitute beat the onrushing McGuinness to the ball.
His header nestled in the empty net to leave Drogheda without a league win in 10 ahead of Finn Harp’s visit on Friday.