Drogheda Utd 4 Galway Utd 0:DROGHEDA RECORDED their biggest and probably most important win of the season over a Galway side that had their fair share of chances at United Park last night.

The first half was end to end as both sides created a number of chances but it was the home side who hit the net six minutes before the break.

Ross Gaynor sent in a deep cross from the left that found Brendan McGill, who drove his volley towards goal where despite the best efforts of defender Gary Breen the ball crossed the line.

Before the goal Brian King should have given Drogheda the lead when he blazed over from six yards and Paul Crowley just missed a touch on James Chambers’ delivery that would have sent the ball home. Galway’s best chance fell to Alan Murphy who saw his shot from inside the box deflected out for a corner.

Twice in the early stages of the second half goalkeeper Paul Skinner saved the day for Drogheda when first he pushed Vinny Faherty’s header from a corner to safety and then denied Aaron Greene in a one-to-one situation.

However, a brace of goals in the space of four minutes around the hour mark sealed the victory. McGill sent the ball in from the right for Paul Crowley, who ghosted in to guide his effort past the hapless Barry Ryan. Two soon became three when Chambers whipped in a free again from the right which Ian Ryan headed powerfully to the net.

Paul Shiels completed a good night’s work for Alan Mathew’s side when he cracked a superb strike to the Galway net three minutes into added time.

DROGHEDA: Skinner, Chambers, Clarke (Osborne 76), Ryan, McNally, Crowley (Shiels 72), McGill B (Bates 79), McGill E, Duffy, King, Gaynor.

GALWAY: Ryan, Conneely, Breen, Guthrie, Faherty, Murphy, O’Brien, Kelly (Cooke 66), McBrien, Greene (Molloy 70), Davoren (Sinnott 66).

Referee: T Connolly (Dublin).