GLEBE apprehensively travelled to Drogheda for their first-round game in the Metropolitan Cup knowing they faced a Drogheda Town side bang in form, but Liam Kelly's men ran out comfortable winners in the end. Drogheda had only been beaten once at home this season before this game, but the Division One side were up against a Senior Division Glebe team that has also been showing great pedigree.

The game started evenly enough and it was nip and tuck in the early exchanges. The surface of the pitch was quite soft after the recent inclement weather, so it made for a scrappy game.

'It was more a battle than a football game,' admitted Kelly.

The home side suffered a double blow on the 20-minute mark when Gavin Brennan received his second yellow card for kicking the ball away.

Chris Costello scored the resultant Glebe free kick and after that it was not much of a contest.

Drogheda had only played one game since early December, and Glebe – who have played six – began to dominate. Brennan had been playing well before his dismissal and had he remained the outcome may well have been different.

Glebe got their second when Noel Barrett got on the end of an Austin McCann cross to finish from close range.

Glebe were moving the ball well at this stage and in the 75th minute Justin Ahern and Gregory Porzega, who had both just come on as a double substitution, combined skilfully before the latter side-footed home to make it 3-0.

'I'm happy to get out with the win. They are a good side and aiming for promotion in the league below, so we are delighted to have got into the second round and hopefully we will get a home draw,' added Kelly.

He paid tribute to his team who put in a good all-round performance in difficult conditions.

Elsewhere in the league, Bangor Celtic moved into second place with a win over fifthplaced Phoenix, leaving Glebe in fourth place, while the leaders Crumlin were without a fixture

Glebe have two important league games coming up as they play Phoenix at home on Friday night at 7.30 and then Dublin Bus, again at home, the following week.

- Paraic BRADY