Drogheda United 3
UCD 1
Barry Landy stories from Weavers Park
A BRACE FROM in-form Freddie Draper handed Drogheda United victory over UCD at Weavers Park, a outcome which sees his aspect leapfrog Sligo Rovers into seventh within the Premier Division.
Such a place is lofty stuff for Drogheda, who’ve spent a lot of the final season-and-a-half marooned in eighth place within the league – above the relegation scraps however trailing behind their mid-table rivals.
That’s largely all the way down to their inconsistency. This win over the College students secured back-to-back league wins for the primary time in virtually precisely a 12 months. That sequence, curiously, additionally included victory in opposition to champions Shamrock Rovers. Drogheda are a really succesful staff certainly.
Their current upturn in fortunes owes a lot to teenage hotshot Draper, who has notched 5 objectives in his final six outings now. United followers will cross fingers and toes his mortgage from Lincoln Metropolis might be prolonged till the top of this marketing campaign.
In addition to his three-minute double on the finish of the primary half, he laid on Dylan Grimes’ second half clincher too. Adam Wells had given UCD an early lead however they couldn’t maintain a vibrant begin.
They too are marooned, however on the foot of the desk, and they’d fortunately swap for United’s decrease midtable obscurity.
After positive work from Ciaran Behan and Daniel Norris, Wells’ equipped a wonderful sidefoot end to seek out the underside nook. UCD have been unfortunate to not double their lead virtually immediately. Jake Doyle rattled the crossbar seconds after the sport restarted.
Bar possibilities for Behan and sub Michael Gallagher within the second half, they didn’t come anyplace close to as shut once more.
Draper issued the College students’ defence a warning as to his prowess twice going shut earlier than he did ultimately discover the web. Luke Heeney received the ball midfield and surged ahead. Darragh Markey supplied the go to Draper. He timed his run appropriately and slotted previous the advancing Kian Moore.
The UCD stopper was crushed once more minutes later when the striker lobbed him from inside the realm. He had been afforded an excessive amount of area. Draper’s knockdown for Grimes to faucet in accomplished a productive night for him and secured a uncommon pair of wins for his staff.
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
