Drogheda United 3 Waterford United 0:Drogheda ran out comfortable winners against a depleted Waterford to extend their their lead at the top of the Premier Division table to three points.

Leading 1-0 at the break, Drogheda dominated the second half and could easily have won by a far greater margin.

Eamon Zayed was prominent for United early on, winning possession out on the right before laying the ball off to Tony Grant, who set up Gavin Whelan to shoot over.

Zayed then battled hard for the ball in the box, but his goal-bound shot deflected out for a corner off defender John Hayes.

Zayed was involved once more on 18 minutes when driving wide from 12 yards, but his persistence was eventually rewarded a couple of minutes later when he put Drogheda ahead.

James Keddy passed into the path of Simon Webb on the left, and he whipped a fine cross into the box, where Zayed was on hand to steer the ball home off his shin.

Four minutes into the second half the home side squandered a glorious chance to double their advantage when Zayed raced on to a long punt up the middle and rolled the ball into the path of Gavin Whelan, who pulled his shot across goal when it appeared easier to score.

Brian Shelley then picked the ball up inside half-way and waltzed past several challenges before driving into the Waterford box only to see goalkeeper Dean Delaney save what would have been a superb solo effort.

Drogheda, now well on top, strung a fine move together as Keddy, Zayed and finally Shane Robinson combined, only for the latter to see his strike rebound off a defender.

The home side's pressure finally paid off as they struck for a second on 64 minutes when Robinson carved open Waterford's defence with a ball through the middle. James Keddy raced onto it before drawing Delaney to score.

Waterford almost pulled a goal back on the stroke of full-time when Cathal Lordan's free from the edge of the box struck the underside of the bar.

A couple of minutes into additional time Drogheda struck for a third when Gavin Whelan whipped the ball into the box from the right and substitute Aidan O'Keeffe was on hand to tap home.

DROGHEDA UNITED:Connor, Webb, Gartland, Robinson, Whelan, Keddy, Grant (Ristila 54), Shelley, Byrne (Keegan 71), Zayed (O'Keeffe 85), Tambouras.

WATERFORD UNITED:Delaney, Scully, McCarthy, Breen, Hayes (Dunphy 86), Warren, Kiely, Lordan, Sullivan, Bermingham (Woodgate 71), Kavanagh (Brosnan 60).

Referee: H Whoriskey(Meath).