Drogs ⚽ Shels ⚽ Slippery

Anthony McIntyre ⚽ For the first time in my memory, we travelled to a Drogs home fixture minus Jay.

He had been feeling unwell, the night was wet, and Paddy thought it best to leave him at home where he could watch the game against Shels on TV in the warmth of his room while his father et moi braved the elements. His forecast, always a feature of these pieces, we had to forego. Given the opposition I think he might have gone for the draw. Which is exactly how it turned out on the night. Hopefully, Jay will be back on board for tomorrow's game.Against that, I just might not make the cut.

Friday morning as I gazed out at the depressing drizzle, not wanting to grouch too much given the streak of really good weather nature had, without any intention, guided our way, I experienced a slight pain beneath my earlobe. I asked my wife if she noticed anything as I had a sense of swelling. Move along, nothing to see here was her report from a cursory inspection. By the time I arrived in the ground, it seemed like an earache. Wasn't I just relieved to have no Ultras near my right side for the duration. Kept awake much of the night by discomfort, when I got up my wife and son both confirmed there was swelling and at a fast enough rate. I dandered to the chemist whose advice was get it seen to otherwise it could be an uncomfortable weekend. Never one to ignore medical advice, I made an appointment with the on-call doctor. Once there I was delighted to find my own doctor was one of the medical staff on duty and she told me she would see me.

My doctor is a devout Christian while I am the polar opposite - an ardent physicalist. Often we would talk about religion but it is never part of her treatment plan. She doesn't preach or proselytise, merely engages in conversation once the medical side of things have been covered. She is hugely intelligent and I enjoy speaking with her. She is a brilliant doctor, one of the best I have ever been treated by. I know her medical skill has pulled me out of the woods on more than one occasion. So when she saw me and said 'what are you doing here?', I knew I was in the best of hands. The placebo effect alone of seeing her gave me a lift. When the racists rant that Ireland is full, it can never be full of people like her, while they are full of shit.

What I had was not an ear infection, but something called Parotitis. Despite its sound, it is not something that parrots get but is an infection of the parotid gland that regulates saliva. On antibiotics and painkillers, I can still feel the battle raging between the infection and the meds. As it leaves me as cheerful as a bear with a sore head, taking to bed frequently during the day, I might give tomorrow's match a miss, as well as an earlier Easter Commemorative event I had planned to attend in Dublin.

As for the game, we took our seats well up in the stand this time because of the rain. It didn't spare us as it was mizzle which kept drifting in. By the end my trousers were soaked though as well as my beanie, making me wonder if the ever growing array of badges on it would rust. Time will tell, Fortunately the coat was waterproof. My one hope was that the Shels fans facing us might be even wetter!

From the first minute the Drogs signalled their intent to mess up in defence. Straight from the kick off confusion reigned in the penalty area in front of Luke Dennison as all lines of communication collapsed. After another restart due to a goal, the same again. Paddy put it down to a lack of concentration and was perplexed at how easily Shels could put a ball between the centre backs and the keeper.

Shels are a good side. Worthy champions from last year's campaign they are well organised and know how to move the ball, always keeping Drogheda on the back foot. For our liking too much of the game was played in Drogheda's half of the pitch. Again, Warren Davis showed his prowess latching onto a rebound from a shot by Thomas Oluwa in the 23rd minute. It was a lead that lasted all of eight minutes. Luke Dennison, as he so often does, failed to deliver the type of kick out needed, allowing the Shels to strike. Dennison is a fine shot stopper but his distribution caused problems throughout the game. Fortunately, the Drogs recovered aided by the slippery conditions ending in a good strike from Owen Lambe which glanced off the boot of Sam Bone. Disappointed as he might have been Bone pulled the visitors level in the second half. Again, we felt Drogheda could have defended better.

We trudged out of the ground somewhat disappointed. Out attitude is win the home games and draw the aways. Still, this result balanced out in favour of the Drogs because earlier in the season they beat Shelbourne away.

As things stand, it is amazing that Drogheda are still top of the League Of Ireland Premier Division. It isn't the result of luck, but more down to good organisational skills on and off the field. As my neighbour, Laura, said yesterday every game can't be won so enjoy it while it lasts. Dogged and determined, the turnaround in fortunes from early season last year has been astounding. Kevin Doherty off the pitch and Ryan Brennan on it have combined to provide quality leadership. Don't rule this side out from being there or thereabouts come the end of the season.

⏩Follow on Twitter @AnthonyMcIntyre.