Before the second league game of the season, following a disappointing result against Waterford last week, John Russell gave debuts to new signings Jake Doyle-Hayes and Harvey Lintott. The pair came in to replace New Zealand international Oskar Van Hattum and Matty Wolfe.
Rovers started off well and with only two minutes on the clock, some neat build up play involving Jad Hakiki and Connor Malley led to the ball finding the attacking Reece Hutchinson. Hutchinson played a lovely ball towards Cian Kavanagh. Fortunately for Drogheda, Kavanagh was only inches away from connecting.
After that moment, Drogheda started to come into the game with Shane Farrell impressing. On 18 minutes, a strike from Farrell was fumbled by Sam Sargeant, who recovered brilliantly to turn it around the post for a corner.
Again on the 20th and 31st minute, the Bit O Red had good chances, with both full backs getting forward again. However, Drogheda keeper Luke Dennison was not properly tested.
On inspection, the pitch appeared to be in good condition. However, one of several slips in the 41st minute proved decisive in the first half.
It was in that minute that Drogheda took the lead. An unfortunate slip by Jad Hakiki handed the ball to Shane Farrell who did well to pick out Josh Thomas who side footed past Sam Sargeant. It was the on loan Swansea City man’s goal that gave Drogheda the lead going in at half time.
There were no changes for either side at the start of the second half. It was tit for tat with very little to report on until the 54th minute. A brilliantly taken corner kick by Will Fitzgerald was met by the head of Ollie Denham who narrowly headed wide and should really have scored.
From that point on, the Rovers midfield three of Hakiki, Malley and Doyle-Hayes were getting more involved. John Russell will need these three marquee men to get in their rhythm and find their feet if they’re to get points on the board. It was Hakiki who was next to test Dennison in the 60th minute. His shot had the sting taken out by a deflection & Dennison held comfortably.
Sligo Rovers continued to provide pressure to Drogheda however on the 73rd minute, Darragh Markey blasted a shot past Sargeant after excellent build up play by Warren Davis.
Sligo Rovers had the ball in the back of the net in the 79th minute after Van Hattum & Lomboto linked up well. Lomboto’s shot, come-cross, found Kavanagh who tapped in, only for the linesman to put up his flag.
On reflection, the healthy Sligo Rovers travelling support will feel there were too many long balls played in this game, with Cian Kavanagh isolated far too often and feeding off scraps.
The game was put to bed in the 93rd minute when Luke Heaney scored Drogheda’s third. Sargeant parried Thomas Oluwa strike back into a dangerous area and Heaney’s nice strike wrapped up a deserved win for Drogheda.
Big disappointment tonight for Rovers who never really got going. A massive game next Friday in Richmond Park where it’s vital they start to pick up points.