It’s advantage Drogheda United who deserved their share of the spoils at the Brandywell on Monday night, the physically strong Boynesiders improving significantly after the break.
But it was a new look home lot who broke the deadlock in fortuitous fashion in the 10th minute.
Rory Patterson’s low free-kick from 30 yards, appeared to have been assisted by a bobble on the edge of the six yards box, before the ball found its way under the body of keeper, Gabriel Sava, and into the corner of the net.
Seven minutes later Derry’s Barry McNamee should have doubled his side’s lead after he had worked his way in behind the Drogheda defence but Sava produced a superb parry.
In fact, the rebound broke to Kevin Deery but the Derry captain’s dipping effort fell agonisingly wide of the upright.
Despite Derry’s dominance of the ball, Drogheda went so close to levelling matters in the 28th minute following a corner.
Keeper Ger Doherty, appeared to spill a cross and when the ball was floated to the back post, towering centre-half Alan Byrne had his header diverted over.
Patterson crashed down to earth when inside the penalty area in the 41st minute but referee, Raymond Hetherington wasn’t impressed, the Derry striker subsequently booked for his prolonged protests.
But Derry were caught cold at the start of the second half when Drogheda scored.
In the 51st minute the experienced O’Brien shook off the attention of his marker and in the one-on-one situation with Doherty crashed the ball into the Derry net.
Patterson brought the best out of Sava on the hour as Derry continued to push forward, the keeper diving low after blocking the striker’s ferocious angled drive.
But Drogheda could have stolen it but a header from Mick Daly was well saved.
Derry City: Doherty; S. McEleney, McBride, Greacen, Madden; P. McEleney, Deery, Higgins (Crawley, 78), McNamee; Rafter (Griffin, 75); Patterson.
Drogheda: Sava; Daly, Byrne, Pendergast, Grimes; O’Brien, Foley, O’Connor, R. Brennan, G. Brennan; O’Neill (Hynes, 83).
Ref: Hetherington (Tyrone).
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