Derry City 3-0 Drogheda Utd
Derry City secured an impressive three points when they saw off Drogheda United, who were reduced to ten-men in the closing minutes, with a brace from Anthony Elding and sublime strike from Barry McNamee ensuring Peter Hutton's side got back to winning ways.
Elding opened the scoring on eight minutes, before McNamee volleyed home their second just the half-hour mark, and finally ex-Sligo front man Elding scored from the penalty spot late on which resulted in a red card for Jason Marks.
The Candystripes went into the game looking to get their first victory in three games having lost to champions Dundalk and St Patrick’s Athletic, with a draw at Sligo Rovers in between.
As for Johnny McDonnell’s side, the Louth outfit have also dipped since securing two victories from their opening games against Bray Wanderers and Sligo; surprisingly losing 1-0 at ten-men Galway United before drawing 1-1 with Limerick in midweek.
Derry made two changes to their side which lost at Richmond Park with Mark Timlin and Josh Daniels coming in for Seanan Clucas and Sean Houston, who both dropped to the bench.
The visitors made three changes from Tuesday night’s game with Mark Hughes, Carl Walshe and Lloyd Buckley coming into the starting line-up.
2nd Half starting here at the Brandywell. @derrycityfc great value for the 2-0 lead. pic.twitter.com/79WAAfTLXB
— Kellz (@imarockerkellz1) March 27, 2015The first real effort at goal came after just two minutes when Daniels allowed too much space to Daryl Kavanagh, but the striker’s 20 yard drive was saved by City goalkeeper Gerard Doherty.
Soon after Doherty was called into action again this time Walshe’ quickly taken free-kick towards goal nearly caught out the keeper but he recovered on his line and saved comfortably.
With their first attack the home side broke the deadlock on eight minutes when some clever play by striker Elding, saw him get some room inside the box to head home Mark Timlin’s inch-perfect centre.
City doubled their advantage on 39 minutes with style after Joe Gorman’s misplaced pass, which had caught out Michael Schlingermann in the Drogheda goal, fell to McNamee who made no mistake firing home from 35 yards on the half-volley.
Early in the second half Patrick McEleney went close to adding a third, but his stinging drive from the edge of the box flew inches wide.
Just before the hour mark Josh Daniels created an opening for Timlin, but the left winger’s strike at the back post flew well over the bar.
Drogheda, however, continued to push forward trying to get back into the game and were inches away from pulling a goal back on 61 minutes but Kavanagh’s superb curling 25 yard free-kick, which left Doherty scrambling, flashed just over the bar.
Derry ended the game as a contest on 77 minutes when Elding fired home from the penalty spot, after Marks was harshly adjudged to have pushed Daniels inside the six-yard box, to make matters worse Marks was also shown a straight red card for the challenge, as referee Rob Rogers deemed Daniels was denied a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Derry City: Gerard Doherty, Shaun Kelly, Ryan McBride, Shane McEleney (Seanan Clucas 71), Aaron Barry; Philip Lowry (Sean Houston 84), Patrick McEleney (Ryan Curran 84), Barry McNamee; Josh Daniels, Anthony Elding, Mark Timlin.
Subs not used: Nathan Boyle, Cillian Morrison, Seamus Sharkey & Shaun Patton.
Drogheda United: Michael Schlingermann; Joe Gorman, Mark Hughes, Mick Daly, Cathal Brady (Matty Rooney 70), Sean Brennan (Joe Duffy H/T); Carl Walshe, Stephen Maher, Lloyd Buckley, Daryl Kavanagh (Micheal Scott 81), Jason Marks. Subs not used: Dylan Connelly, Robert O’Reilly, Shane Dunne & Tiaran Mulvenna.
Referee: Mr Robert Rogers (Dublin).
