Boys suffer Major setback in the capital

SPRING sunshine beamed down when these teams met earlier in the season, but the wind and rain returned for this encounter and it was Phoenix who beat the elements to emerge victors at Scribblestown.

Facing into the wind Drogheda Boys were trying to play their passing game, but Phoenix were not in the mood to let them settle and after six minutes the hosts took the lead.

Gradually the midfield trio of Alan Beattie, Bradley Abedeen and Frank McClean began to take control and when the ball was moved quickly out to the right wing Cian King who was tormenting the home right-back.

However, through a combination of good goalkeeping and last-ditch defending Phoenix managed to keep their goal intact and Drogheda were unlucky to go in at the break 1-0 down.

With the wind now at their backs, the Boynesiders started brightly in the second period and early pressure saw them draw a free just outside the box, from which a cracking effort by Aaron Lawler flew just over the bar.

However, on 47 minutes Phoenix doubled their lead and seven minutes later they made certain of victory with a third goal.

The remaining quarter of an hour saw Drogheda battle for a consolation, with McClean was causing all sorts of problems.

Eseosa Omoregbe powered through from midfield, beating three players, and from 20 yards sent in a ferocious shot which the keeper did well to block. DROGHEDA BOYS: Jonathon Clear, Aaron Lawler, Oladipo Dele, Frank McClean, Taju Adigun, Peter Meegan, Daire Sharkey, Alan Beattie, Bradley Abedeen, Cian King, Sean Collier. Fola Oki, Craig Masterson, Michael Leddy, Eseosa Omoregbe, David Massaqui.