Full-Time in Head in the Game Park. Drogheda 1-0 Dundalk

Bradley almost saves a point in spectacular fashion as he flicks it through Roughan's legs and bends a shot just wide. A header from Paul Boyle goes just wide immediately after as Dundalk continue to push

Foley goes close again cutting in from the right once more, this time dragging it a whisker wide

A series of corners for Dundalk has whole ground on the edge of its seat but nothing comes to fruition for the away team

Hoban goes close again with a volley on the edge but long is equal to it again

Poynton to make way now and Andrew Quinn will replace him

George Poynton has gone down momentarily with what looks to be a cramp. The players re fuel as a result and Doherty rallies his men for the last ten

15 to go and Doherty's men continue to defend with 10 men as Dundalk struggle to get through. It will Lyon's job to chase clearances down up top for the hosts

Dundalk continue to probe. Benson gets down the by line and sets up Hoban in the box but a sloppy touch lets him down. Drogheda 10 behind the ball now really

Goalscorer Williams is replaced by Chris Lyons for the Drogs

Sub Bradley almost equalises for the visitors but his low drilled effort from the right is saved by Long

Foley almost doubles the home lead with what was nearly a goal of the season contender. The former Harps man cut inside and cannoned an effort of the bar

Benson involved again breaking in goal after a lovely swivel but Sean Roughan made an excellent last ditch tackle. Dundalk stepping up the intensity in attack now

The Oriel Park outfit launch an attack only for Benson's effort to be saved comfortably by Long

Williams tucks away the spot kick with confidence. 1-0

Penalty for Drogheda under controversial circumstances. Nugent seemed to go down softly under a Greg Sloggett challenge just inside the box but the referee pointed to the spot

Double change for the Lilywhites into the second period as Keith Ward and Steven Bradley replaces John Martin and Joe Adams

Half-Time here at Head in the Game Park and it remains 0-0

John Martin with a heroic jumping clearance on the line after a Drogheda corner saw skipper Dane Massey poke the loose ball dangerously towards goal

Still very even here coming up on the break and somehow the deadlock hasn't been broken. The away side have looked the slightly more dangerous but Kevin Doherty will be pleased with his side tactically

A nice move from the claret and blue saw Darragh Nugent combine with Williams and then slip a pass out wide to Adam Foley who hit the side- netting from an acute angle

The aerial threat of Stephen O' Donnell's side is becoming more significant and Sam Long in goal hasn't looked comfortable dealing with it thus far

A warning for the Drogs after a good Dundalk move ended with a disallowed goal. Robbie Benson rode some challenges in the centre before playing it out to Joe Adams who was offside before setting up a Pat Hoban tap-in in the box

Only now this game is starting to settle down a bit. Both sides had been engaging in a war of diagonal long balls and now both are starting to play on the ground a bit more

A chance equally as good at the other end. Dean Williams was played through and brought it around Nathan Shepperd but he seemed to hesitate which saw his tame effort cleared on the line

Brilliant chance for the Lilywhites. A route 1 ball from Lewis Macari saw John Martin anticipate the scraps. The ball then fell to Hoban on the edge who volleyed just wide

A frantic first ten here. Both sides playing with lots of energy meaning play is being broken up very frequently

Early half chance for Dundalk. The ball breaks dangerously from a free kick but Keith Cowan blocks well in the box. This one already seeing its share of fouls

We're underway here and just one minute in the game has been stopped as a flare from the away end lands on the pitch

Dundalk team news: Darragh Leahy and Steven Bradley return to the bench while John Mountney remains out

Drogheda team news: Chris Lyons is back in the squad having been out with covid and starts on the bench. Luke Heeney and Ryan Brennan remain out and Darragh Markey joins this list following a metatarsal injury on Monday

The hosts can two points behind their rivals tonight with a game in hand if they are victorious. Dundalk remain undefeated to this point however

Con Sheehan reporting from Head in the Game Park as Drogheda United take on Dundalk in the Louth derby. Kick off is at 7:45pm