DROGHEDA UNITED snatched victory in the FAI Cup first round replay at United Park last night with a goal in the first period of extra time after a hard fought game.

Drogheda fully deserved this win for their spirit alone. They had much the better of the first halt, but failed to take their scoring chances and it looked as if they were going out when they gave away a soft goal 40 seconds after the interval. A mistake by Noel Reid gave Mick Byrne the chance to send a great left foot shot to the net.

Drogheda never gave up and got the equaliser 15 minutes before the end of normal time, when a run into the heart of the Dundalk defence by Paul McLoughlin gave Tom Sullivan the chance to shoot to the net from an acute angle.

The home team were really playing well at this stage and it took a couple of great saves from the Dundalk goalkeeper, Eddie Van Boxtel, firstly to stop Trevor Vaughan and then John Ryan.

In the first period of extra time, Drogheda kept up the momentum of their attacks and got the winning goal in the 101st minute when a great cross from the back line by Sullivan gave Trevor Crolly the chance to shoot from the edge of the area.

Veteran Bobby Browne had another great game for Drogheda and deservedly won the man of the match award.

For Dundalk, Mick Doohan was the pick.