Deery and Zayed help Derry close gap at the top

SOCCER AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION: Derry City 2 Drogheda Utd 0:DERRY CITY'S steady Eddie McCallion celebrated his 500th competitive game for the club when leading the Candystripes to victory over Drogheda at the Brandywell last night.

Made captain for the night, the 32-year-old will have been happy to celebrate with a win which brought his side to within one point of league leaders, Shamrock Rovers.

And while the game was certainly nowhere near the quality of last Friday night’s demolition of UCD, Brandywell boss, Stephen Kenny, will have no complaints with another three points.

After a sluggish start to the game, it was Drogheda who looked bright and they threatened when midfielder Cillian Thompson directed a shot wide of the target in the 12th minute.

But the home side eventually broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute following a fluid move.

McEleney sent Eamon Zayed scampering clear on the right and his deep cross was met by the head of the unmarked Kevin Deery at the back post.

Drogheda went close to restoring equality in the 35th minute when Darragh Hanaphy beat the offside trap but after bursting into the penalty area the striker could only drill his shot into the side netting.

In the 67th minute Zayed had the ball in the Drogheda net but an alert referee’s assistant denied him when he raised his flag for offside as the home side began to dominate.

Despite their pressing, the home side still lacked that vital insurance goal with Drogheda always dangerous on the break.

Gareth McGlynn should have doubled Derry’s lead in the 80th minute but he failed to make proper contact with the ball when well-placed.

But Zayed ended the game as a contest four minutes into injury time when he guided the ball home following a superb break by Harkin.

DERRY CITY:Doherty; McCallion, Greacen, S McEleney, Lafferty; McGlynn, Higgins (McBride, 57 mins), Deery (Harkin, 63 mins), McClean; P McEleney (McLaughlin, 76 mins), Zayed.

DROGHEDA UNITED:Trimble; Nolan, McNally, Ekanem, Hand; Freeman (Corcoran, 72 mins), Flynn (O'Brien, half-time), Thompson, Gannon, McNamara (Skelly, 80 mins); Hanaphy.

Referee:D Tomney (Dublin).