Christmas came early for Finn Harps, who left Drogheda with all three points from a very scrappy Premier Division game last night. Both goals came in a five-minute spell in the second half and both were as a result of defensive errors.

The first on 68 minutes was the fault of home goalkeeper Gareth Byrne, who came off his line but failed to collect a Stuart Gauld cross from the right and the ball broke kindly for substitute Gareth Callaghan, who picked his spot from 18 yards.

The home side could have been level a minute later when James Impey broke through at the other end and tested Jodi Byrne with a fiercely-driven shot from 25 yards.

But the home side's fate was sealed on 73 minutes when Jonathan Speak fired home from the edge of the box courtesy of a Callaghan assist when John Cody and John Reid made a hash of a defensive clearance.

Drogheda had another chance to break their duck 12 minutes from the end when Roy Fox sent Brian Irwin racing clear. But Irwin took too long to steady himself for the shot and Jodi Byrne had time to narrow the angle and save.

That just about summed up Drogheda's night, which had started in such promising fashion and they should have been ahead at the break with Andy Ramage twice coming close from a shot and a header while Gauld also did well five minutes before the break to clear from the feet of Michael Harte, who was ready to pounce after Byrne couldn't hold a 35-yard Ramage effort.