Derry brush aside struggling Drogheda to continue winning ways

Derry City produced a five-star performance to easily see off bottom side Drogheda United at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

After Cameron Dummigan's early goal, which was cancelled out by Adam Foley, Derry never looked back after Will Patching's penalty, before Daniel Kelly, Pat Hoban and Ciaran Coll all netted in the second half.

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The victory was Derry's fourth in a row and their fine night was capped off when substitute Colm Whelan came off the bench to get his first taste of action in just over a year.

For Kevin Doherty, he has to become more worried as his side suffered yet another defeat and their awful night was summed up when striker Frantz Pierrot was red-carded in the second half.

The home side should have taken the lead on four minutes as Hoban played in Kelly, but the right winger's close range shot was kept out by United goalkeeper Andrew Wogan.

Two minutes later the Brandywell men went in front in outstanding style as Dummigan let fly from 25 yards to find the top right hand corner, giving Wogan no chance.

The bottom side should have equalised soon after as Warren Davis found space inside the six yard box, but his close range shot was cleared off the line by Kelly.

Hoban went close to adding a second on 21 minutes but his right footed shot from the left hand angle of the six box was parried away by Wogan.

United levelled things on five minutes later as Evan Weir's inswinging corner from the right fell to Foley after a goal-mouth scramble and the former Finn Harps man blasted home the loose ball.

Derry were awarded a penalty 29 minutes as Foley seemed to drag Mark Connolly down inside the box, referee Robert Harvey pointed to the spot and after the visitor's protests were waved away Patching