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eircom National League First Division

Date	16/11/2001
Score (Blues First)	0 - 0
Venue	United Park, Drogheda
Kick Off	7.45 PM
Attendance	480
Weather	Dry and calm
Referee	P. Sutton (Clare)
Goal Scorers	None
Cards	Yellow: Rea, Whittle D Red: Fitzgerald T
Pitch	Very good surface

With only three points between the Blues and the Claret and Blue this match was always going to be a tense affair with no team wanting to lose. Drogs had only won once in their last eight league matches and the Blues were flying high after thumping Finn harps 5-0 in the RSC the week previous.

Club captain David Breen and Wayne Fitzgerald were both suspended for this clash so PP had to shuffle his pack around. Paul Leahy was moved to right full and Kevin Whittle who is returning from injury was put beside Dempsey in the middle. The Waterford team took a while to settle and it was Drogheda who had the first chance of the game when a shot we deflected over the bar by the outstretched leg of Brendan Rea. After this early scare The Blues took the game to the home side and our first chance fell to Bradley who found himself behind the Drogs back line and advancing on goal, but not realising the time he had Eric shot tamely wide with his left leg. Later in the half it was Kevin Waters who was getting the better of his marker crossed the ball into the middle where Colin O'Brien was waiting, but last weeks two goal hero headed over the bar, when he should have scored. Paul Binder who had been a spectator for most of the half was glad to here the half time whistle so he could have a cup of tea to heat himself up.

Waterford United were stunning in the first twenty minutes in the RSC last week and the same team came out in the second half and played super football and cut the Drogs defence to pieces. Unlike last week this time all 3 chances fell to our striker. Once from 6 yards, then 8 yards, and finally 12 yards Barry Wood failed to find the net. Drogheda just couldn't get hold of the ball, Man of the Match Brendan Rea never gave the Drogheda forwards a sniff, as he blocked, headed and kicked every ball that came his way. The Blues continued to press after this but our goal scoring chances dried up and players were hesitant in sending the ball into the box. Traveling to United Park we would have settled for a point, but after watching the match PP and his players must be disappointed not to go top of the League for the first time this season. Thomas Fitzgerald left himself wide open to receive a red card two minutes into injury time when he jumped two footed into a tackle in front of referee Sutton.

The First Division of the National League is wide open this year and the Blues have as good a chance as anyone of gaining the automatic promotion place, but we need to find a striker quickly or get Ian Barry or Aaron Moroney fit and back into the first team. Midfielders will get their fair share of goals but you need a striker to score in every other game to make a push for top spot.