Drogheda Utd - 2 Dublin City - 0 Drogheda took sole possession of third place in the table when recording a comfortable victory over a plucky Dublin City side at O2 Park last night.

Andy Myler put Drogheda ahead in the first half and Dave Freeman sealed the points with a second 14 minutes from time.

Dublin City had the better of the early exchanges and Paul Crowley should have scored after just 10 minutes when he raced into the Dublin City area only to shot straight at goalkeeper Gary Rogers.

The best of Drogheda's early chances fell to Myler whose shot was deflected back to keeper Robbie Horgan.

Drogheda began to assert themselves as time wore on and took the lead on 24 minutes when Mark Rooney crossed from the right for Myler to find the net from six yards.

Drogheda had several chances to extend their lead, the best arriving 12 minutes from the break when Freeman set up Rooney, whose shot was well blocked by visiting keeper Horgan.

Dublin began the second half in similar fashion to the first, dominating the early stages, and were unlucky not to equalise after 50 minutes when Gary O'Neill's shot was blocked as it careered goalwards.

Drogheda upped the pace as the half progressed and with 20 minutes remaining, Mark Quinless was denied by Horgan in the City goal.

Minutes later Freeman's header was inches wide and then an excellent John Lester strike was tipped away by the diving Horgan.

The second Drogheda goal duly arrived on 76 minutes when Rooney sent Freeman clear and he picked his spot before beating the advancing Horgan .

Drogheda United should have made it three in stoppage time when Freeman was again inches wide with only the goalkeeper to beat.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Rogers, Sullivan, Kelly, O'Connor, Gray, Lester, Reilly, Molloy, (Quinless, 42 mins), Rooney (O'Brien, 77 mins), Myler (Freeman, 26 mins), Lacey.

DUBLIN CITY: Horgan, Ennis (Burke, 68 mins), Byrne, McGauley, Whelahan, Crowley (Tierney, 83 mins), O'Connor, Colwell, O'Neill, Hughes, Brennan.

Referee: Hugo Whoriskey (Meath).