Longford Town 1 Drogheda United 2:As the chasing pack bunched behind them, Drogheda United extended their lead at the top of the Premier Division to eight points last night as first-half goals from Guy Bates and Paul Keegan proved enough to give them victory at Flancare Park.

The title favourites were made to work hard to preserve their lead late on and Ian Ryan's 92nd-minute low-driven strike added a little balance to the look of the scoreline but United's win was deserved and Longford's major regret will be the late sending off of experienced central defender Kevin Doherty.

Though still propping up the table, Longford had come into the game fresh from a cup win that earned them a place in that competition's last four and with a fractionally better league record than the division's leading side over the past couple of months.

As if to underline their claim to be the form side of the two, they made the better start to what was, early on, a decidedly poor game. While United were slow to find any sort of rhythm, the hosts were quick to chase opponents down and anxious to get at a back four built once again, after a long disruption due to injury, around Jason Gavin and Graham Gartland.

On their day the pair are as good together as any centre halves but Gartland looked sluggish early on and when Longford worked the ball in from a Collie James throw on the right and Dessie Baker sent Dave Mooney scampering free into the box, the home side really should have taken the lead. Instead, Dan Connor saved Mooney's close-range shot with his right foot.

They were made to pay when they were completely opened up on 35 minutes when Gavin made a smart interception inside his own half and fed Brian Shelley who after a quick one-two with Ollie Cahill set up Bates for his third goal in as many games.

Had Alan Mathews's side made it to the break without conceding again there would still, on the basis of their performance up to that point, have been cause for some optimism.

The team's back four had coped well enough with Drogheda's front two while the United's midfield, without the suspended Stuart Byrne, was having to work pretty hard for its marginal superiority.

With added-time about to kick in, though, the locals' concentration slipped and Shelley was again allowed to work his way into the box. Gary Deegan prevented the full back's attempted pull back from reaching Eamon Zayed but from the resulting Richie Baker corner Paul Keegan was allowed to score the softest of headed goals.

Though they continued to look lively at times and Dessie Baker turned in a performance at least a little reminiscent of his best days, Longford were pretty much beaten after that.

United played well within themselves for the bulk of the second half but still produced the better of the chances early on with Sean Prunty doing well to prevent Richie Baker hitting the target before Zayed completely mishit his attempted half-volley after being put goal-side of his minders.

After that, it was mainly Longford over the course of the closing half hour and their perseverance was rewarded with Ryan's late consolation.

LONGFORD TOWN: Kelly; James, Ryan, Doherty, Prunty; Reilly, Deegan, Boyle, Martin (Rutherford, 57 mins); Baker, Mooney.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Connor; Shelley, Gavin, Gartland, Webb; Baker, Keegan, Robinson, Cahill; Bates, Zayed (Ristila, 85 mins).

Referee: D Hanney (Dublin).