Drogheda Utd 0 Derry City 1: A SOLITARY goal in the closing stages decided this one when Derry stole all three points from an encounter where they played second fiddle to a Drogheda side who created the lion's share of opportunities but couldn't find the net.

Derry enjoyed much the better of the early exchanges as the home side appeared to be still on their mid-season break. However, Drogheda came much more into the game during the middle part of the half when they created a number of goal chances but Eamon Zayed (twice) and Guy Bates (twice) should have done better with good opportunities.

Drogheda began where they left off eight minutes into the second half when goalkeeper Gerard Doherty came to Derry's rescue, diving full length to push Ollie Cahill's stinging drive from 20 yards out for a corner.

Despite all of Drogheda's pressure Derry went closest to scoring the 68th minute when Peter Hutton met McGinn's cross only to see his powerful header clawed to safety by keeper Ewings.

Sixty seconds later the home side had a strong shout for a penalty turned down by referee Anthony Buttimer when Steven Gray appeared to handle Kendrick's ball into the box.

Seven minutes from time, and against the run of play, Derry struck for the winner when McGinn raced down the right wing and crossed for substitute Conor Sammon, who drilled the ball home.

Derry could have made the points safe in the dying minutes but another sub, Ciarán Martyn, scuffed his shot.

Drogheda went close to an equaliser on 87 minutes when Ibrahima Iyane Thiam's header on to Zayed was turned round the post by the home side's front man.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Ewings, Kendrick (Iyane Thiam, 87 mins), Gavin, Gartland, Hughes, Bates (Grant, 75 mins), Shelley, Byrne, Zayed, Ristila (O'Keeffe half-time), Cahill.

DERRY CITY: Doherty, McCallion, Hutton, Gray, McHugh (Morrison, 70 mins), McGlynn (Martyn, 19 mins), Deery, Molloy, Farren (Sammon, 74 mins), McGinn, Delaney.

Referee: A Buttimer (Cork)