Derry City 1 Drogheda United 0Drogheda United failed in their efforts to put the pressure back on Bohemians at the top of the Premier Division when losing at the Brandywell last night.
Having made no less than five changes from the side which faced Shelbourne - including keeper, Gary Rogers - Drogheda struggled and rarely seriously threatened the home goal.
From a Derry point of view, the win sees them leapfrog St Patrick's Athletic in the table and move clear of the relegation area.
Derry boss, Stephen Kenny, also made changes and he will have been delighted with the performance of young striker Mark Farren. And it was the Donegal lad who netted the game's only goal when hitting the target after just two minutes.
Killian Brennan floated the ball into the danger area and Farren, in so much space, rose unchallenged to head the ball home for what proved a particularly easy goal.
After the break the game seemed to fizzle out, the play resembling a typical end-of-season affair. Gary Beckett, however, brought the best of Tony O'Dowd in the 80th minute, the keeper saving with his legs and Drogheda were denied an equaliser in the 88th minute thanks a superb David Forde save.
DERRY CITY: Forde; McCallion, Hutton, Delaney, D. Brennan; McGlynn (Byrne, 85 mins), Martyn (Higgins, 91), Deery, K Brennan; Farren (Murphy, 75 mins), Beckett.
DROGHEDA UNITED: O'Dowd; Sullivan, Lynch, Grey, Kelly; McClare, Lester (Freeman, 56 mins), Molloy, Sandvliet (Cronin, 60 mins); Myler (Bird, 73 mins), Rooney.
Referee: I Stokes (Dublin).
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