Drogheda Utd - 3 Derry City - 1:NATIONAL LEAGUE: Drogheda  were well worth their victory over Derry at O'Toole Park last night.

Derry were the dominant side in the early stages and had strong claims for a penalty when Don Tierney held back Eamon Doherty in the box.

Liam Coyle went close on seven minutes before Tony McCallion's 20-yard strike flew narrowly over the Drogheda bar.

Derry should have taken the lead after 27 minutes when, from McCallion's right-wing cross, Eamon Doherty's close-range header was brilliantly turned away by Rodgers in the home goal.

Drogheda improved as the half progressed, and 10 minutes before the break, Stewart Taylor's 12-yard strike was tipped away by Alan Gough in the Derry goal.

A minute later, Drogheda were ahead when O'Connor's cross from the right was knocked down by Taylor into the path of Mark Dempsey, who fired home from 20 yards.

Drogheda impressed in the early stages of the second half. However, it took a penalty for the home side to get their second goal.

With 67 minutes on the clock, Sean Hargan brought Andy Myler down in the box . Myler picked himself up to slot the spot-kick past Gough.

City gave themselves a life-line just four minutes later when McCallion's initial strike was parried by Rodgers for Ciaran Martyn to follow up and find the back of the net.

But Drogheda regained their composure and struck the vital third goal 10 minutes from time when Myler ran onto a Chris Todd through-ball to score. Myler could have had a hat-trick minutes from the end but was denied by Gough.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Rodgers. O'Connor, Cronin, Lynch, Todd, Kelly, Tierney, Taylor,O'Brien, Myler (Dunne, 90 mins), Dempsey.

DERRY CITY: Gough, Boyle, Hargan, Hutton, McLaughlin, Doherty, McGlynn (Deery, 68), Martyn, Coyle (Hughes), McCallion, Friars (McReady, 64).

Referee: Ian Stokes (Dublin).