Dundee United striker David Goodwillie showed what all the transfer fuss is about with a piece of individual brilliance that secured a win in the first of their pre-season matches.
The Tannadice men took the lead on 20 minutes through Johnny Russell on Sunday, the man many hope will step into Goodwillie’s shooting boots when he moves, before the home side levelled on the half-hour mark.
Goodwillie had started the match on the bench and had to wait until the 66th minute to get on. He still managed to light up this friendly, somehow weaving his way through a sea of defenders before blasting a low shot home from the tightest of angles.
It was a superb finish and it let everyone know why clubs like Cardiff City and Blackpool FC are so keen on taking him down to the English Championship.
Manager Peter Houston was delighted with Goodie’s goal and, more importantly, happy with the test all his players got from a dogged Drogheda team.
He said, “It was nice to win but the most important thing for me is that we didn’t get any injuries.
“The first game of the summer is always the hardest and it is just a case of building from here.”
He added, “I thought our two new signings, Willo Flood and John Rankin, looked good in the middle of the park.
“I will change things around for Tuesday’s match against Bohemians now to give others their opportunity.”Kenneth’s half-volleyThe Tangerines’ starting line-up at the spendidly-named Hunky Dorys Park had a youthful look to it.
Given their chance were Filip Mentel, Ross Smith, Scott Allan, Stuart Armstrong, Ryan Dow and trialist Gary Mackay-Steven.
Goodwillie was on the bench alongside Rankin, who had flown over on his own to join the team at their Dublin training base after being on honeymoon.
There was a familiar face in the home side, with former Dundee defender Dave Rodgers turning out for the Irishmen. His presence gave the 30 or so United fans some good-natured banter.
It was all United when the action got under way in bright sunshine.
Scott Allan wasn’t far away with a shot that whizzed past the post in the first minute, then Garry Kenneth half-volleyed just over with 12 minutes on the clock.
Barry Douglas then sent Russell clean through but Drogheda keeper Wayne Drummond did well to clear. Russell wasn’t to be denied on 20 minutes, though, when he blasted the visitors into a deserved lead.
Keith Watson, playing his first game since undergoing a hernia operation, found space out on the right and fired the ball into the box where Russell was lurking and the frontman sent a rocket shot past Drumond.Good old GoodieDow should have made it 2-0 but pulled his effort wide.
That was a real let-off for the home team and they took full advantage when they equalised from their first attempt on goal on the half-hour mark. Gavin Brennan delivered a cross from the left that was met by the head of Jordan White.
The tourists should have gone back in front eight minutes before the break when Kenneth had a free header but he could not get enough on the ball.
United made a couple changes at the break. On came 18-year-old keeper Marc McCallum to replace Mentel, while there was the return of Flood to the midfield as Robertson made way.
Mbeleck Pierre was among the Drogheda half-time substitutions and he was quickly called into action to tip over a strike from Dow.
The Tangerines gave their fans a look at new boy Rankin on 57 minutes, bringing him on for Allan, while at the same time Dale Hilson took over from Mackay-Steven.
Goodwillie came on for United on 66 minutes for Armstrong, while Sean Dillon replaced Smith.
United made their final substitutions of the day on 78 minutes, introducing Jon Daly and Paul Dixon for Russell and Barry Douglas.
The stage was left clear for Goodwillie to dance through the defence with six minutes to go before hammering a shot into the net.