Derry condemn Drogheda to the drop

DERRY CITY re-ignited their Euro hopes ways as they got back to winning ways at Maginn Park to condemn Drogheda to relegation.

The Candy Stripes were gifted the lead after just three minutes thanks to a shocking attempt at a back pass by Conor Kane.

Rory Patterson’s pass to Conor McDermott was too heavy, but the full-back reacted quickly to latch onto Kane’s woeful effort and rounded goalkeeper Stephen McGuinness before rolling the ball into the empty net.

It just got better for Derry from there and by 14 minutes they were two goals to the good. Again Patterson was involved as he found McDermott in space on the right wing and the full-back powered towards the penalty area before crossing low to Ronan Curtis who got ahead of Lloyd Buckley to hook in his eighth goal of the season.

Drogheda were more of a threat in the second half, thanks in main to Adam Wixted. The right winger was full of trickery and his teammates brought him into the game as often as they could, the youngster giving Ben Doherty a difficult time as Drogheda won a series of corners.

Derry were labouring in their attempts to get the third and killer goal but they came close midway through the second period when Ben Doherty set up a shooting chance for Curtis, but the shot went into the side netting.

Derry barely threatened for long stages of the second half but with ten minutes remaining they almost put the seal on victory as Nicky Low’s free-kick found Harry Monaghan but his header was kept out by McGuinness. Mark Doyle pulled a late goal back for Drogheda but it was too little, too late.