Spot-kick miss proves very costly for Rovers

BOYNE Rovers are in danger of being dragged into a relegation battle in the Premier Sunday division after the Drogheda team were beaten 2-1 at home to Castleknock Celtic on Sunday.

It was very much a chance for Rovers to just put a nice gap between them and the bottom sides, but a slow start saw Rovers fall behind after 20 minutes.

The hosts did pull level before the break when midfield maestro Farai got on the end of a good team move to pull his side level.

The sides went into the break with the score at 1-1, but on the hour mark some poor defending gifted Castleknock a second goal.

Rovers continued to press and John Morgan had the best of the chances, but he was denied three times by the Castleknock keeper.

Then on 81 minutes Morgan was brought down in the box and Rovers were awarded a penalty.

Farai stepped up, but his well struck spot kick was tipped around the post.

Rovers piled on the pressure in the closing minutes but just couldn’t find that equaliser.

Elsewhere in the Premier Sunday division, Drogheda United suffered a 3-2 defeat at home to St James Gate on Sunday afternoon.

While Drogheda are being pulled towards the bottom of the table, they still have plenty of games in hand to get themselves out of trouble.

It doesn’t get any easier for Boyne Rovers as they welcome league leaders Monrea to Parkview for an 11am kick-off on Sunday.

Rovers haven’t beaten Monread in any of their last four meetings, indeed they didn’t score in those games either. Their meeting this season saw Monread run out 4-0 winners.

It will be a busy week for Drogheda United as they travel to Blessington on Sunday before another road trip to Peamount United the following Wednesday.

Both teams are vying for the promotion spaces in the Premier Sunday division, so Mickey Matthews’ team won’t have anything easy.