Drogs come from behind to beat Shels in seven-goal thriler

Despite taking a two-goal lead against Drogheda United, Shelbourne are still searching for their first home win of the season

Conor Keeley scored the winner for Drogheda United against Shelbourne. Pic: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

SSE Airtricity Premier Division: Shelbourne 3 Drogheda United 4 

The search for their first home win of the season continued as a barrage of boos rang around Tolka Park as Shels fell to a dramatic 4-3 defeat.

It’s now four defeats on the spin for Shels as a spirited second half from Drogheda United saw them come from two down to eventually win 4-3.

In a breathless opening, it took just 11 minutes for the home side to have the ball in the back of the net when Evan Caffrey coolly finished past Flynn Talley only to see the flag go up for a narrow offside.

Boyd then got the reward his all action start deserved 20 minutes in, beating the offside trap from Woods' well-timed through ball and to finish low at the near post.

There were huge shouts for what would have been a second yellow for Jago Godden when the big New Zealander flew into a challenge with Lunney, but seemed to hurt himself in the process. The home support were up in arms as Godden escaped what would have been an early bath, before he was substituted for former Reds man, Shane Farrell.

But the anger around Tolka park soon turned to jubilation when skipper Paddy Barrett made his presence felt in the opposition box, rising highest in a packed area to nod home and double his sides lead just minutes before the break.

But for the umpteenth time this season, Shels defensive set-piece frailties came back to bite when Edwin Agbaje halved the deficit, heading home Kavanagh’s inswinging corner.

Sensing blood, the visitors incredibly levelled and then took the lead through Warren Davis quickfire double.

Following some excellent work by Thomas Oluwa down the left, coupled with some questionable defending, the attacking midfielder skipped through Barrett and Ledwidge unchallenged before hitting the back of the net.

And five minutes later in very similar circumstances, Conor Kane turned provider crossing from the left teeing up the 21-year-old to put his side ahead.

The scoring wasn’t done just yet as Rodrigo Freitas was then brought down in the area by Keeley allowing Wood to level from the spot.

But just as it looked like the spoils would be shared, Keeley atoned for his earlier discretion smashing a low strike from 25-yards that arrowed into the bottom corner to ensure all three points went back up the M1.

SHELBOURNE: Speel; Caffrey (Coote, 89’), Bone (Gannon, 88’), Barrett, Ledwidge; Wood, Henry-Francis (McInroy, 73’), Lunney, Jarvis (Lundgren, 73’): Boyd, Martin (Freitas, 61’)

DROGHEDA UNITED: Talley; Agbaje, Keeley, Quinn (Bolger, 46’), Kane; Brennan, Godden (Farrell, 35’): Davis, Kavanagh (Cruise, 90+2’), Oluwa; Kareem (Doyle, 58’) 

Referee: Marc Lynch