Shels are shocked by Drogs
DROGHEDA UNITED 4 SHELBOURNE 1
DROGHEDA United Under-19s continued their good home form with a comprehensive defeat of a good Shelbourne side on Saturday at United Park.
With David Harper and Emmett Carolan injured, James Carroll continued at right-back and Karl Fitzsimons in midfield, and recent wins have given this team the confidence to play fast and accurate football, even under pressure.
The game was only five minutes old when, from a swift move on the right side, Stephen Meaney was unlucky to see his effort saved.
But only five minutes later the Drogs took the lead when Lee Partridge cut in from the left and struck a good shot which the Shels keeper parried out to Mark Doyle who made no mistake from the rebound.
Shelbourne were having almost as much possession as the Drogs, but the home team were more dangerous in from of goal. After a rare Shels chance slid past the post the home side had opportunities around the half-hour mark before Karl Fitzsimons made it 2-0 on 38 minutes from a Doyle pass.
The Drogs went in 2-0 up at half-time and it took a good Dylan Sweeney save on 50 minutes to keep the visitors scoreless, but on 53 Partridge sent a great shot from outside the box to the top corner of the net to make it 3-0.
The visitors pulled one back, but it was Drogheda who had the final say on 72 minutes when Fitzsimons made it 4-1 with a snap shot from outside the box.
This was another comprehensive victory for Derek Boyle’s Under-19s who showed again that they are a well balanced squad, most of whom have been in the Drogheda United Player Pathway system for at least two seasons. DROGHEDA UNITED: Dylan Sweeney, James Carroll, Craig D’Arcy Sean Tunney, Sam Reilly, Kyle Molloy, Karl Fitzsimons, Mark Doyle. (Lee McGuinness), Stephen Meaney, Nathan Seery (Eoin Broughan), Lee Partridge (Sean Hughes). Sub not used: Harry Hogan. •Drogheda United Under-17s are away to Shelbourne tonight (Tuesday) in their latest Northern Division fixture - kick-off 7.15pm.