Shamrock Rovers' drive for five still alive as Dylan Watts hits late ...

At this stage of the season, neither side would have been satisfied with a point each here in their own battles at opposite ends of the table.

With title challengers Shelbourne and Derry City both winning their fixtures tonight, only three points would do for Shamrock Rovers to keep the pace with two games to go.

And it looked like the spoils would be shared at Weavers Park until a late moment of pure magic from Dylan Watts handed the champions a massive victory to keep their five-in-a-row hopes alive.

Stephen Bradley watched from the stands as his side enjoyed the better chances in front of 2,357, but they didn’t have it all their own way as FAI Cup finalists Drogheda battled hard, with Douglas James-Taylor missing a gilt-edged first-half chance to take the lead.

But Rovers stayed patient as the 85th minute breakthrough came in impressive fashion - a thunderbolt from 30 yards. It was just Watts’ second league goal of the campaign, but it could prove crucial as the Tallaght side kept the pressure on the top two in their quest for history.

It’s as you were in terms of the title race, as Rovers remain in third, level on 55 points with second-placed Derry and two off leaders Shels. The defeat was a big blow for Drogheda’s hopes of avoiding ninth and the promotion/relegation play-off, as eighth-placed Bohemians could open a seven-point gap should they win in Sligo on Saturday evening.

The visitors started strongly as a fine through ball by Jack Byrne slotted Darragh Burns in on the right flank. The midfielder, on loan from MK Dons, zipped a dangerous cross into the home box but a superb block by David Webster averted the danger.

Moments later, Rovers centre-half Lee Grace, one of two changes alongside Marc McNulty, saw his header sail just wide of Luke Dennison’s post from a corner, as the visitors sought an early opener.

On 12 minutes the champions came forward again as McNulty’s header was well blocked after another excellent Burns cross. Having withstood the early onslaught, Drogheda soon settled into the clash and their first chance of the night arrived from a set-piece.

After Byrne was booked for a poor challenge on Adam Foley, Farrell stepped up and nearly found the net from 30 yards, only to see his free-kick stopped by a superb save from Leon Pohls.

Drogheda were growing in confidence, but on 31 minutes, they really should have had the lead.

A long ball by Luke Heeney was cleared by Rovers skipper Roberto Lopes but only as far as Elicha Ahui, who did well to loop the ball into the path of James-Taylor running into the final third. The striker, on loan from Walsall, saw his shot saved by Leon Pohls, but had a moment to forget when he blazed the follow up over the bar with the goal at his mercy. It was a huge chance.

Doherty’s men were almost made to pay for that miss as moments later, Dan Cleary’s header at the back post was brilliantly cleared off the line by Drogheda skipper Ryan Brennan. An almost comical goal line scramble then ensued, but Drogheda cleared their lines and survived.

McNulty nearly opened the scoring just before the interval when, following fabulous link up play from Byrne and Gary O’Neill, the striker was played through on goal but struck the wrong side of the post. Both sides entered the break level, having had more than one chance to open the scoring.

After the restart, Burns attempted to slot McNulty through but the Scottish striker, who signed in August, was just a fraction of a second too late. Byrne sprung into a good pocket of space seconds later, but blazed his effort high and wide into the houses behind the goal.

The Hoops charged forward again and on 55 minutes Webster had to be alert to divert Danny Mandroiu’s effort to safety, before Watts’ follow up proved routine for Dennison.

And just seconds before he saw his number up on the board, McNulty thought he had put Rovers into the lead with a nice finish courtesy of a fine Mandroiu pass, but the linesman’s offside flag denied him a second league goal of the season.

Ireland U-21 striker Johnny Kenny and the experienced Graham Burke soon entered the fray and it was clear Rovers were not going to settle for a point with the title on the line.

And they didn’t have to. With five minutes left of the clock, Watts picked the ball up in midfield, jinked past Brennan and found the top corner with aplomb. Bradley stood to his feet and raised his fist in the air. They absolutely needed this.

If the champions do go on to lift a fifth successive league crown in a fortnight, the winner was a strike worthy of winning any league title.

Drogheda United: Dennison; Bolger, Ahui, Quinn, Webster; Brennan, Farrell, Markey (Davis 77); Foley (Cailloce 83), Heeney, Taylor.

Shamrock Rovers: Pohls; Cleary, Lopes, Grace; Burns (Honohan 88), Watts (Nugent 88), O’Neill (Burke 63), Farrugia; Byrne (McEneff 71), Mandroiu; McNulty (Kenny 63).

Ref: K O’Sullivan.