Drogheda United 3
UCD 1
Barry Landy reports from Weavers Park
A BRACE FROM in-form Freddie Draper handed Drogheda United victory over UCD at Weavers Park, a result which sees his side leapfrog Sligo Rovers into seventh in the Premier Division.
Such a position is lofty stuff for Drogheda, who have spent much of the last season-and-a-half marooned in eighth place in the league – above the relegation scraps but trailing behind their mid-table rivals.
That is in large part down to their inconsistency. This win over the Students secured back-to-back league wins for the first time in almost exactly a year. That sequence, interestingly, also included victory against champions Shamrock Rovers. Drogheda are a very capable team indeed.
Their recent upturn in fortunes owes much to teenage hotshot Draper, who has notched five goals in his last six outings now. United fans will cross fingers and toes his loan from Lincoln City can be extended until the end of this campaign.
As well as his three-minute double at the end of the first half, he laid on Dylan Grimes’ second half clincher too. Adam Wells had given UCD an early lead but they couldn’t sustain a bright start.
They too are marooned, but at the foot of the table, and they would happily swap for United’s lower midtable obscurity.
After fine work from Ciaran Behan and Daniel Norris, Wells’ supplied an excellent sidefoot finish to find the bottom corner. UCD were unlucky not to double their lead almost instantly. Jake Doyle rattled the crossbar seconds after the game restarted.
Bar chances for Behan and sub Michael Gallagher in the second half, they didn’t come anywhere near as close again.
Draper issued the Students’ defence a warning as to his prowess twice going close before he did eventually find the net. Luke Heeney won the ball midfield and surged forward. Darragh Markey provided the pass to Draper. He timed his run correctly and slotted past the advancing Kian Moore.
The UCD stopper was beaten again minutes later when the striker lobbed him from inside the area. He had been afforded too much space. Draper’s knockdown for Grimes to tap in completed a productive evening for him and secured a rare pair of wins for his team.
Drogheda United: Colin McCabe; Elicha Ahui, Emmanuel Adegboyega, Conor Keeley, Aaron McNally; Luke Heeney (Matthew O’Brien, 90+1), Ryan Brennan; Dylan Grimes, Darragh Markey, Dayle Rooney; Freddie Draper (Adam Foley, 77)
UCD: Kian Moore; Jack Keaney, Harvey O’Brien, Evan Osam (Colin Bolton, 72); Donal Higgins (Michael Gallagher, 53), Dara Keane (Matthew Alonge, 73), Ciaran Behan, Alex Nolan (Brendan Barr, 58); Daniel Norris, Jake Doyle (Danu Kinsella-Bishop, 72).
Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan
So he won’t comment on Costa regarding two stamps but has an opinion on every decision that went against him. A dose of wengeritis me thinks.
Funny, when etoo kicked Suarez in the box last year he was adamant that wasn’t a penalty. So what’s he yapping about this time?
Etoo also made a horrendous challenge on a Liverpool player in the first two mins of that game last year also if my memory serves me correctly. Howard Webb bottled that game, as per usual.
Oscar almost crippled Lucas in that game too, he got a yellow and he was remorseful, but still, these things show how lucky Chelsea have been. They should have the worst disciplinary record in the league.
Costa is probably facing a ban , so Maureen won’t comment on it cause he doesn’t want to implicate him even more then what he is already
Johhny, when has Maureen ever talked about it when it is about his players? But, if against his team, he is willing to destroy the reputation of a ref, or like he did with Suarez, call them terrible things to the game…… Suarez was/is an immature player, prone to very stupid things, but he loves football 100%, has the skills to back it up. Costa plays for Chelsea, so it is ok.
“Great campaign. We know how much that pundit loves Chelsea and particularly loves me. When you are there and you are paid and you are very well paid – much more than some managers that have to put their ass, every 90 minutes, every weekend on the bench.
“These guys, they have a very good seat, very good money, no pressure. They are always right. They never lose, they always win, but they have to be fair and they have to be honest. I don’t know his name, because when I see him I switch off the television.”
Classic Mourinho !