Sport

Murphy takes full advantage

Drogheda Utd 1 Waterford Utd 2: Waterford United came away from United Park with all three points primarily due to a couple …

Sat Sept 25 2004 - 01:00

Drogheda Utd 1 Waterford Utd 2: Waterford United came away from United Park with all three points primarily due to a couple of defensive calamities by the home side.

The visitors went ahead in the early stages but were pegged back just before half-time. Waterford's winner arrived 14 minutes from the end when the home defence imploded once more.

Drogheda's cause was not helped when defender John Flanagan received a straight red card 10 minutes before the last goal.

The home side created the first chance of the game with two minutes gone when the ball fell to Declan O'Brien who volleyed wide of the goal from 20 yards.

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Waterford took the lead a couple of minutes later when Barry Molloy tried to be too clever with his clearance and the ball was blocked down by John Frost. The rebound off Frost ran across to Daryl Murphy who drove the the ball to the net from 10 yards.

Waterford dominated for most of the next half hour of play and had a couple of chances to extend their lead during that period but failed to capitalise.

With the first half entering the closing stages Drogheda finally got their act together.

After winning a corner on the left Alan Reilly knocked it short to Jermaine Sandvliet, whose outswinging cross was powerfully headed to the net by centre half Stephen Gray.

Drogheda were on top in the opening quarter of the second half with O'Brien, Molloy and Reilly all going close to giving the home side the lead. Flanagan then saw red and Drogheda had to regroup.

Then, with 76 minutes gone, Mark Rooney gave the ball away in midfield, Willie Bruton broke down the right and crossed into the box.

Molloy attempted to clear but he hit it straight to Murphy who scored his second goal of the evening.

The goal against the run of play stunned the home side who, despite enjoying the lion's share of possession thereafter, failed to create an equalising opportunity until added time when Tony Bird knocked the ball over from close range

DROGHEDA UNITED: Rodgers, Flanagan, Sandvliet, Gray, O'Connor, Lester, Whelan (Freeman, 70), Molloy, O'Brien, Rooney (Bird, 60), Reilly (Cronin, 72).

WATERFORD UNITED: Connor, Coleman, Frost, Reynolds, Breen, Whelehan, Carey, Mulcahy, Murphy (Quitongo, 90), Banville (Bruton, 60), Clifford.

Referee: D McKeon (Dublin).