DROGHEDA UNITED’S Warren Davis celebrated his birthday this week with yet another goal to send Kevin Doherty’s team back to the summit.
The attacker turned 20 on Monday and after hitting the target against Cork City last week, he was at it again as the Drogs beat Waterford.
His goal on the stroke of half-time put United deservedly in front.
When Darragh Markey doubled their lead in the second half, the result was never in doubt.
Sullivan & Lambe Park is a fortress these days and following defeat against Shamrock Rovers on home soil last time out, United were keen to get back to winning ways.
Waterford arrived on Boyneside on the back of three straight defeats.
A fourth means their own superb start to the season is just a memory.
The Drogs are in dreamland though. With Galway United and St Pat’s failing to win, it means they are back on top.
The home side enjoyed much the better of things in the opening 45 but clear-cut chances were at a minimum, while frontline strikers Douglas James-Taylor and Josh Thomas were still out injured.
Davis’ strike, though, was his third in four games. The Ireland youth international has taken full advantage of Drogs’ injury issues.
When Keith Long’s team did not clear their lines very well, Ryan Brennan sent a header back into the penalty area.
Davis was on it in a flash and reacted quickest to fire a shot across goalkeeper Stephen McMullan.
Markey grabbed the second. His cross from the left flew into the net, without getting a touch from Conor Keeley who wheeled away in celebration. That was cheeky — he got nowhere near it.
Markey almost had a second but was denied after Brennan’s shot came back off the crossbar.
SUN STAR MAN
Warren Davis (Drogheda)
DROGHEDA UTD: Dennison 6; Quinn 7, Keeley 7, Bolger 7; Lambe 6, Farrell 6 (Heeney 79, 6), Brennan 7, Kane 6 (Cruise 5, 6); Markey 7 (Doyle 86, 6); Oluwa 6 (Kareem 86, 6), Davis 7.
WATERFORD: McMullan 5; Horton 5, Radkowski 6, Leahy 5 (McCormack 88, 6), Burke 5; McDonald 6, White 5 (Glenfield 75, 5), Olayinka 6 (Lonergan 63, 5); Noonan 6, Coyle 5 (McMenamy 75, 5); Amond 6.
REFEREE: Neil Doyle (Dublin) 6.
