Drogheda Independent

Elliott’s confident that goals will start to flow

- BY MARCUS CAVAROLI

STEPHEN Elliott has insisted there are lots of positives for Drogheda to take into this week’s visit of Galway United after bossing Friday’s game against Sligo but having to settle for a point.

The nine-times-capped former Ireland internatio­nal (pictured right) believes the atmosphere in the camp is good as the Boynesider­s prepare for what is their biggest game of the season to date.

‘We tried to win the game and it was there for us, but we can’t get too downhearte­d because the games are coming thick and fast,’ the 33-year-old striker said shortly after the full-time whistle.

‘We hadn’t drawn a game all season. Earlier on we played against Bohs where I thought we were the better team and lost, so if you look at it like that we take it a positive. It’s another point on the board and we’ve only had one defeat in four games, which is good because we went through a bad spell.

‘It was a happy enough dressing-room. Sligo are a full-time team and if anything we showed more quality than them in the game. We were slightly disappoint­ed we didn’t come away with three points, but we could have lost the way we did against Bohs earlier on in the season and I’m sure we’ll be bang at it again next weekend.’

Elliott had heard of Galway’s heroics in beating Dundalk the same night, but he feels the Drogheda squad are in a good place mentally and physically to deal with the threat from the Tribesmen. An added bonus is the return to action of fit-again Killian Brennan who came on againstg Sligo for his firstst game in more than twowo months and will be pushing for a starting place.

‘Anything can happen in football and no two games are the same,’ Elliott pointed out. ‘Going intoo it, they will be fullull of confidence after that game [Dundalk],ndalk], but we beat them earlier on in the season.

‘Every game is going to be tough, but as long as we show the same effort and enthusiasm and bits of quality that we showed tonight, there’s no reason why we can’t get another result.

‘We probably could have been two or three up first half - Schlingerm­ann had made a couple of good saves. They rallied and got themselves a penalty, but Stephen’s made a great save and we were disappoint­ed to go in at half-time drawing because I think we definitely had the majority of the game.

‘There were a load of positives. I thought young Conor Kane at left-back was magnificen­t and he’s only going to get better, the more games he plays. ‘We jjust have to keep going, get the balabalanc­e right between training and gamegames. Everybody bodyEveryb­ody is singing off the same hyhymn sheet anand that’s important. poimportan­t. I think, as you’ve seen tontonight, everybody bodeverybo­dy is behind each other and if we do tthat on the pitch, thethere’s no reason sonreason why we cacan’t stay up come the end of the season.

‘Especially with the three going down, you can’t get too carried away after a win, the same if you lose. It’s going to be a long old season and we’re probably going to be in the fight right to the of the season along with maybe five or six other teams.’

With one solitary goal to his name so far, Elliott isn’t entirely happy with his contributi­on to Drogheda so far, but feels he still has plenty to offer in the twilight of his career.

‘I’m enjoying every game I play now,’ he said. ‘I’ve had so many years not playing that I just want to enjoy my football. If I can contribute to the team and help the young lads that are in the squad in any way, that’s what I’m here for.

‘I still feel I can be effective in games and I’ll carry on as long as I feel like that.

‘I tired and Richie [Purdy] put me down in the corner late on, just before I came off, but I try and look after myself and get myself right when it comes to match night and hopefully I can get a few more years out of the body.

‘I’d like to have a few more goals. The keeper has made a really good save tonight off me and I look at the games I played and I probably could have a few more, but I’ll still keep trying because I’d like to think there’s some goals in me still.

‘If I keep getting in position to have shots, then I’m sure they’ll start going in for me.

‘I love the game. It’s been part of my life since I can remember so it’s great to be back playing. The lads are great and I get enthusiasm off the younger lads. They keep me alive on the pitch, so I’m really enjoying it still.’

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