Brilliant Boys rise like the Phoenix

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WHETHER it was coincidence or providence, Drogheda Boys rose like the proverbial Phoenix against Phoenix FC to put in a sparkling display of football on a beautiful spring morning in Marley’s Lane.

From the kick off Drogheda sparkled when they moved the ball out to the left for Fola Oki to take it up the wing to put it into the Phoenix penalty area for the incoming Aaron Lawler to coolly slot the ball into the net.

Drogheda took control of the midfield and at every opportunity they swept the ball out to the wings for Fola Oki and Frank McClean to run onto and press the Phoenix defence.

The pressure from Sam Victory and Peter Meegan in the middle of the park had the Phoenix midfield out of sorts as they were constantly having to turn and race back towards their own goal to defuse the Drogheda attacks.

Drogheda kept probing throughout the first half with Daire Sharkey being strong in the attack and giving the Phoenix defenders headaches with his strength and bustle.

However, some last ditch defending from Phoenix somehow managed to keep the scoreline at 1-0 going in at halftime. Drogheda came out like a whirlwind at the start of the second half.

Bradley Abedeen playing out right was running on to the through ball from that midfield maestro Aaron Smith.

Every time he put the ball into the penalty area Phoenix were in disarray but the final touch was just lacking.

Then on 40 minutes Drogheda got a free just inside the Phoenix half on the right hand side. Aaron Smith struck a beautiful diagonal lofted ball and Aaron Lawler ghosted in on the far post to slam the ball into the Phoenix net, 2-0 to Drogheda Boys.

Phoenix to be fair didn’t lie down and they tried to take advantage when Drogheda lost the ball in midfield.

However the Drogheda central defensive partnership of Dipo Dele and Ewan Sweeney were towering in defence and smothered any threats.

When Phoenix switched to the wings to try and break down the Drogheda defence Taju Adigun on the right was rock solid and nothing was getting past him on the day.

Hugh McClean on the right offered an attacking threat which complemented his defensiveness duties.

Then on 60 mins as Drogheda continued to dominate Aaron Smith released Bradley Abedeen on the right wing who danced into the penalty area, cut inside and played the ball across the six yard box for the onrushing Peter Meegan to bundle the ball into the net.

From the heartbreak of the two previous away games Drogheda Boys put in a performance which was disciplined, stylish, direct when needed and fully deserved the reward for their efforts.