Drogheda U 2 Sligo R 3:A BRACE from Pádraic Amond saw Sligo return to winning ways when they got the better of a gutsy, youthful Drogheda in an entertaining match that produced a hatful of chances and five goals.

There was nothing for almost a quarter of an hour and then like the proverbial city bus, two goals in a couple of minutes saw the first half come to life.

Drogheda drew first blood when Glen Fitzpatrick got his head to Eric McGill’s free, sending a looping header to the top corner of the net.

The home side’s advantage was wiped out almost immediately as a Richie Ryan free found Gavin Peers, whose header down into the turf bounced embarrassingly over goalkeeper Paul Skinner.

Sligo should have then hit the front twice when firstly, Eoin Doyle’s effort was turned away by Skinner and with the netminder beaten, John Russell’s angled drive came back off the crossbar.

As the half moved towards a conclusion Michael Daly should have restored United’s advantage when he met Joe Kendrick’s delivery but he put his header over with the target yawning. A second defensive implosion gifted Sligo the lead when Amond tangled with Skinner before managing to bundle the ball over the line.

Drogheda made a change at the interval, bringing in local youngster Ronan McEnteggart and within minutes he levelled matters meeting Alan McNally’s cross to send a bullet-like header past a stranded Richard Brush.

The home side visibly wilted in the closing stages and with seven minutes to go a fine Peers run set up Amond, who drove home the the winner.

DROGHEDA UTD: Skinner, Kendrick, McNally, McGill, Crowley (Duffy, 87 mins), Flood, Meenan (McEnteggart, half-time) (Kierans, 83 mins), Daly, McMahon, Fitzpatrick, Brennan.

SLIGO ROVERS: Brush, Keane, Davoran, Peers, Ryan, McCabe (Dillon, 77 mins), Ndo, Russell (O’Grady, 65 mins), Laughlin, Amond, Doyle (Blinkhorn, 77 mins).

Referee: D Hanney (Dublin)