Derry City 0 Drogheda United 1:Drogheda United continue to hold the Indian sign over Derry City, Paul Doolin's men bouncing back from last week's FAI Cup elimination at the hands of Bohemians to win at the Brandywell.
It was a deserved win for Doolin's depleted side, who had seven players injured and two suspended, with their strike force of Eamon Zayed and Sami Ristila wreaking havoc in the home defence throughout the first half.
Drogheda always threatened when in attack and they defended resolutely when under the cosh in the second period.
Drogheda opened brightly when a Zayed cross in the 13th minute found the totally unmarked Ristila but he directed his free header straight at Pat Jennings.
A minute later a James Keddy cross was flicked on by Ristila before Zayed's deft touch crashed off the upright.
Zayed had a low shot parried wide by Jennings in the 20th minute before Drogheda were eventually rewarded for their persistence in the 34th minute.
Again it was the combination of the United Park front men who worked the oracle when Zayed played Ristila in and when the Finn successfully turned Darren Kelly, he swept the ball high into the net for what was a superb finish.
Drogheda continued to dominate after the break and both Keddy and Zayed had chances to put the game out of Derry's reach.
However, a double substitution in the 55th minute seemed to spark the home side into action and one of those substitutes, Ruaidhri Higgins, forced Drogheda goalkeeper Dan Connor into his first save of the match following a free-kick - Derry's first shot on target.
On the hour another Derry effort by Eddie McCallion was turned around the post by Connor as the home side began to come to life.
Derry created a superb equalising chance three minutes from the end when Mark Farren worked his way into space but he pulled his shot wide.
DERRY CITY: Jennings; McCallion, Kelly (Hynes 77 mins), Oman, Hargan (Higgins 55 mins); McGlynn, Molloy, Deery, Brennan; Beckett (McHugh, 55 mins), Farren.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Connor; Byrne, Gray, Shelley, Lynch; Whelan, Keegan, Bradley, Keddy; Ristila, (O'Keeffe, 81 mins), Zayed.
Referee: I Stokes (Dublin).
