Derry City 1 Drogheda U 1: It's advantage Drogheda United who deserved their share of the spoils at the Brandywell last night, the physically strong Boynesiders improving significantly after the break.

With Derry missing several first-choice players, it was the 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-yard box, before the ball found its way under the body of goalkeeper 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. The rebound broke to Kevin Deery but the Derry captain’s dipping effort fell agonisingly wide of the upright.

Drogheda also went close to levelling in the 28th minute following a corner when centre-half Alan Byrne had his header diverted over the bar

However, they got their just rewards when Derry were caught cold in the 51st minute as Declan O’Brien in a one-on-one situation with Doherty slotted the ball home.