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Robinson strikes late on

Sligo Rovers 3 Drogheda United 3 : SHANE ROBINSON saved Drogheda's blushes with a last-gasp goal from the penalty spot in a …

Mon Sept 01 2008 - 01:00

Sligo Rovers 3 Drogheda United 3: SHANE ROBINSON saved Drogheda's blushes with a last-gasp goal from the penalty spot in a six-goal thriller at the Showgrounds on Saturday night.

The game was edge-of-the-seat stuff from start to finish with Paul Doolin's side having to come from behind on three occasions.

Sligo, who had drawn with the Boynesiders on their two previous meetings this season, looked to be on course for victory with three minutes of normal time remaining.

However, the visitors laid siege to the Reds goal in the tense closing minutes and the pressure paid off when Séamus Coleman handled in the box.

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Ice-cool Robinson slotted the ball past Richard Brush to haul his team back from the edge.

But the drama didn't end there. Sligo blitzed the Drogheda goal only to see Richie Ryan's stoppage-time strike ruled out for offside.

Declan O'Brien's penetrating runs caused problems for the home side at the start of the first half but Brian Cash put the Reds ahead against the run of play in the ninth minute after a Richie Ryan rocket came back off the woodwork.

Shaun Maher headed Drogheda level from an early Ollie Cahill free kick after 34 minutes but within a minute a Cash header had Sligo back in front again.

Former Sligo striker Fahrudin Kudozovic regained parity for the visitors on 43 minutes but Paul Doolin's side were caught cold for the second time when Rafael Cretaro scored on the stroke of half time.

Kudozovic attempted to chip Jamie Ewings in the Drogheda goal with a clever effort after 59 minutes.

"It was a smashing game and we deserved to win. I don't want talking about officials but we should have got a penalty. We have shown a lot of commitment but we are having plenty of bad luck at the moment," said Sligo boss Paul Cooke.

SLIGO ROVERS: Brush, Coleman, Butler, Peers, Almeida, O'Grady, Cash, Ventre, Boco, Ryan, Cretaro. Subs: Doherty for Almeida (ht); McTiernan for Cretaro (72); McDaid for Boco (89).

DROGHEDA UNITED: Ewings, Kendrick, Gartland, Robinson, Hughes, O'Brien, Shelley, Zayed, Maher, Cahill, Kudozovic. Subs: Thiam for Zayed (60); Tambouras for Shelley (68); Ristila for Kendrick (75).

Referee: P Sutton(Clare).