A pin by Eric McWoods lifts Arps off the table legs

A brace from American striker Eric McWood helped Finn Harps climb off the bottom of the Premier Division.

cWoods hit both ends of the break after Filip Michalewicz opened the scoring.

A minute before halftime, McWoods scored Harps’ second goal off a feed from Michalewicz. Arps’ victory was capped off when McWoods headed home Regan Donnellon.

The Donegal side took the lead in the 23rd minute when Michalewicz converted a penalty after McWoods was brought down in the box.

McWood almost doubled the lead in no time, but his header flew past keeper Colin McCabe and wide of the far post.

Michalewicz and McWoods put together a move that could have broken the deadlock with four minutes to go. McWoods’ header gave Michaljevic a chance, but McCabe saved, turning the Croatian’s shot into the corner.

From the spot, Drogheda broke free from Dale Rooney, who charged Dar Markey, who was denied by Barry McNamee’s block, which deflected off team-mate Chris Lyons.

Darragh Nugent clipped the post with an enterprising effort from the edge of the box after 13 minutes, while former Harps striker Adam Fowley was denied by McCabe.

Harps added a second in the 44th minute when McWoods finished well after Michalewicz cleared the ball.

Ex-Grimsby Town goalkeeper James McKeown denied ex-Harps striker Adam Foley early on and a superb full-length save was denied by Drogges substitute Ryan Brennan.

Finn Harps – McKeown; Boylan, Turish, Slevin; Boyle (Carillo 89), N’Zeyi, Connolly, Donnellon; McNamee (Timlin 90); Michalewicz (Raney 70), McWoods.

Drogheda United – McCabe; Poynton, Quinn, Massey, Weir; Foley, Deegan, Nugent (Brennan), Rooney; Stamps (Grimes 65); Lyon (Victor Orong 75).

link – Damien McGrath