Parkhouse Brace Lifts Harps Out of Dropzone

October 31, 2008

A brace of second half goals from Stephen Parkhouse saw Finn Harps come from behind to secure three precious points in their bid to avoid relegation. 

The visitors looked to be heading for defeat until they equalised against the run of play approaching the hour mark and despite Drogheda still looking like they'd win this one the Donegal men hung in to strike for a late winner.

Harps looked the more assured side early on as a much changed Drogheda eleven struggled to find their feet.  Stephen Parkhouse stabbed the ball over from close range, Michael Funston drove wide, Neil McCafferty's free sailed through a crowded goalmouth past the post and the same player tested debutant United keeper Paul Skinner.

However, as the half wore on United began to assert themselves and went close to opening their account on 23 minutes when Adam Hughes header was saved by James Gallagher in the Harps goal.  The home side hit the front nine minutes from the break when a Fahrudin Kuduzovic shot moved wickedly in flight for Declan O'Brien to apply the finishing touch.  Within sixty seconds Drogheda went close to doubling their advantage when Ollie Cahill's cross was met by Sami Ristila who saw his point blank effort blocked by Gallagher.

With just short of a quarter of an hour gone in the second half Harps levelled from McCafferty's cross on the right which was headed home at the far post by the unmarked Stephen Parkhouse.

Within minutes the Donegal men should have taken the lead when Tyrrell's free picked out the unmarked Declan Boyle who somehow guided his header wide.

James Gallagher then kept Drogheda at bay as he made successive saves from Kuduzovic and O'Brien twice.

But the home side were then caught with a deadly sucker punch seven minutes from time when Conor Gethins shot was initially saved by Skinner, however, the loose ball fell to Parkhouse who hammered the ball to the net for what turned out to be a precious winner.

Drogheda: Skinner, Clarke, Tambouras, Maher, Kendrick, Ristila (Zayed 55), Hughes, Keegan, Cahill, O'Brien, Kuduzovic.  Finn
Harps:  Gallagher, Mukendi, Malcolm, Minnock, Holmes, Funston, Boyle, McCafferty, Tyrrell (Breen 77), Parkhouse, Gethins (Beckett 87). 

Referee: A. Buttimer (Cork).