Derry City 2
Drogheda United 0

Peter Hutton is one from one at the Brandywell!

Goals from Michael Duffy and Rory Patterson sealed the first win of the Peter Hutton era, and only City’s third league win in 14 this year.

This was a much more satisfactory display from the hosts who were threatening throughout and the fans went home happy after seeing their team dominate a game t the Brandywell for the first time this season.

Just six minutes in Derry City created their first opportunity, when Duffy and McEleney exchanged passes, but the former sliced his effort wide from the left side of the penalty area.

Drogheda were equally as determined to make an early breakthrough it seemed, an Gerard Doherty was worried as he dived to his left as an effort from Gavan Holohan flashed past the post.

The game was not short on effort but plenty lacking in excitement as the game passed the 20 minute and the goal it desperately needed, and Derry desperately needed arrived just 60 seconds later. A deep cross from Barry McNamee from the right went all the way to the back post, and despite the angle being against him, Duffy struck a brilliant first time volley which flew low past David Ryan and into the net. The goal was Duffy’s third of the season and Derry’s first in 251 minutes of league football.

Drogheda’s response was almost immediate as Paul Crowley played a clever ball in behind Aaron Barry and Gary O’Neil profited, but he went for power rather than precision and his shot from the right flew well wide of the target.

Derry were now playing with a spark and twice on 30 minutes they could have doubled their lead. Barry McNamee was puling the strings from the centre and he played a tempting ball for Patterson to race onto and the striker did just that, outpacing his marker and shooting early to bring a good save from Daly.

But it was very nearly 2-0 to Derry within two minutes. Again it was a through ball from McNamee which put Patterson one on one with Shane Grimes, and again the striker took his shot early. But it curled just wide of Ryan’s post.

Drogheda remained ambitious despite the circumstances and they threatened an equaliser when Derry City failed to close down Paul Crowley on the edge of their penalty area and his shot took a deflection as it skimmed just wide of Gerard Doherty’s goal.

The goal that the Brandywell craved arrived on 65 minutes and it was a goal worthy of winning any game. A Drogheda attack broke down and Barry McNamee set Patrick McEleney clear. There was no shortage of space in front of McEleney and he raced clear into the Drogheda half, before taking on, and beating Michael Daly. McEleney only had Patterson in support but he somehow managed to pick out the perfect cross for the striker, who arrived at the back post just in time to scramble home McEleney’s dinked cross and give Derry all three points

THE TEAMS

Derry: Gerard Doherty, Dean Jarvis, Barry Molloy, Shane McEleney, Ryn McBride, Barry McNamee, Danny Ventre, Patrick McEleney (Ryan Curran 92’), Roy Patterson, Michael Duffy, Aaron Barry.

Drogheda: David Ryan, Michael Daly, Shane Grimes, Alan McNally, Paul Crawley, Gavan Holohan (Declan O’Brien 45’), Gary O’Neill (Phiip Hughes 80’), Ciaran McGuigan, Carl Washe (Cathal Brady 54’), Sean O’Connor, Daire Doyle.

Referee: Derek Tomney.

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