Early goal gets Drogs victory over Sligo

The Trivela Group CEO was spoke to supporters prior to kick-off, likely offering apologies and assurances in equal measure following the club's expulsion from the Europa Conference League.

Douglas-James Taylor scored the winner for Drogheda United in the third minute. Pic: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

SSE Airtricity Premier Division: Drogheda United 1 Sligo Rovers 0

If there were question marks about how Drogheda United’s exit from European competition might affect Kevin Doherty’s players, those have emphatically been answered. A good showing against Shamrock Rovers last Monday did not result in points.

Four days on and despite constant Sligo Rovers pressure throughout, they did the job. Douglas-James Taylor scored the winner.

As expected, Drogheda owner and co-chairman Ben Boycott was present at the game. He addressed Kevin Doherty and his players in light of their UEFA Conference League expulsion.

The Trivela Group CEO was also seen speaking to supporters prior to kick-off, likely offering apologies and assurances in equal measure.

Drogheda had won all three of Sligo’s most trips to Boyneside, by an aggregate score of 13-1. It took them only three minutes to extend their eye-catching statistic further, with James-Taylor hitting the net.

Warren Davis robbed Jad Hakiki of the ball in the centre circle and he raced towards goal before feeding strike-partner James-Taylor. The Walsall loanee – in what may have been his last home game as a Drogs player – blasted a shot past Sam Sargeant.

There are usually plenty of goals when these sides meet and while that goal was not added to in the first half, it was not for a lack of effort on either side.

Conor Kane smashed a shot against the corner of bar and upright and before that Andy Quinn and Warren Davis shot over the bar. The latter, certainly, should have done better.

Luke Dennison was called into action multiple times to deny an impressive Sligo an equaliser that they warranted in truth. He saved at his near post from Wilson Waweru and then Owen Elding before he scooped Will Fitzgerald’s shot over the bar after the restart.

It was a confident performance from John Russell’s team, in an attacking sense, but there were familiar failings at the back. Only misfortune and misfires kept the deficit at one goal.

The Bit O’Red were culpable at the other end too especially when Jad Hakiki shot wide with the goal at his mercy in the 64th minute and then substitute Cian Kavanagh headed wide soon after.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Dennison; Cooper, Keeley, Quinn; Cruise (Markey, 46), Heeney, Farrell, Kane; Brennan; James-Taylor, Davis (Oluwa, 79).

SLIGO ROVERS: Sargeant; Reynolds, McElroy (McDonagh, 35), Mahon, Hutchinson; Doyle-Hayes, Mallon (Van Hattum, 69); Elding, Hakiki (Lomboto, 83), Fitzgerald; Waweru (Kavanagh, 69).