Pierrot spotter seals crucial win for Drogheda against Sligo

SSE Airtricity Premier Division: Drogheda United 3 Sligo Rovers 1

Frantz Pierrot’s second half penalty set Drogheda United on the way to a crucial victory as Kevin Doherty’s team kept in touch with those above them by beating Sligo Rovers at Weavers Park.

Sligo hit the front just six minutes in through Will Fitzgerald. The winger netted his first goal in 11 months when firing across goal and in from Wilson Waweru’s knock-down.

In a nervy opening period, United looked like a team who had won just once in 15 league matches dating back to last September. Sligo’s ability to capitalise was already undermined by the absences of Max Mata, Fabrice Hartmann, Simon Power and Nando Pijnaker – four big hitters in John Russell’s arsenal.

Darragh Markey’s stunning strike from 20 yards levelled the game within 20 minutes.

In scoring, Markey equalled his league goal tally for the whole of last season. Goals are something he knows he can add to his game and in the immediate aftermath of that strike, he looked eager to repeat the trick.

He twisted and turned away from both Niall Morahan and Connor Malley in the centre circle and continued his run into the area. When Conor Kane’s low cross came his way, his goal bound effort was blocked bravely by Ollie Denham who threw himself wholeheartedly in its path.

If Kevin Doherty wanted his team to press home their superiority in the second half, his team failed to do so. They started as sluggishly, if not more so, after the restart. Sligo were invited back into the contest though despite working some openings, they failed to test the goalkeeper.

Luke Heeney won the penalty that ultimately decided the contest. Niall Morahan clumsily took the right back down on the touchline and referee Mark