League Report: Derry City 3 - 0 Drogheda United
Credit:
Derry City ran out rampant victors at the Brandywell comfortably dispatching Drogheda United 3-0 in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division on Friday night. A brace from new signing Anthony Elding and a superb strike from Barry McNamee sealed Drogheda’s fate.
The game started rather slowly but we nearly had an opener after just six minutes. Ger Doherty was almost lobbed again by a long ranged effort but fortunately for the Derry shot stopper, it wasn’t déjà vu.
The opening goal though came just two minutes later. Mark Timlin showed some great skill on the left flank and did well to work the ball into the box where Anthony Elding was lurking. The striker converted with a great diving header to open his Derry account.
The contest at this point really died down for a lengthy period until the next and last real action of the first half.
It was an initial mix up in the Drogheda back-line that gifted Derry possession which ultimately resulted in the second for Derry on 39 minutes. Drogs ‘keeper Michael Schlingermann and one of his defenders got mixed up when the goalkeeper advanced off his line to try and collect the ball but the defender half-cleared it.
Unfortunately for Drogheda, the ball fell to Barry McNamee who unleashed a superb volley from 25-yards straight into the top corner. That was the end of the first 45 minute period that saw very little goalmouth action apart from the two Derry strikes.
The Candystripes started the second half as they ended the first half and nearly had their third after 57 minutes. Joshua Daniels found himself some space on the edge of the box. The winger played a through ball pass into Mark Timlin but the onrushing wing man couldn’t bring his shot on target and shot waywardly over.
Just three minutes later, Drogheda went close to halving the deficit. They won a free kick just outside the box and Daryl Kavanagh stepped up and took aim, but unfortunately for the Drogs, it just went over Doherty’s bar.
The encounter yet again entered a quiet spell but was lit back up into life after 74 minutes. Referee Robert Rogers adjudged Jason Marks’ challenge on Daniels to be a foul and pointed to the spot before showing the straight red card to Marks. Elding coolly stepped up from the spot and fired home sending Schlingermann the wrong way.
Derry from that point on bossed the Drogheda defence and it was almost a case of a training game. The last action of the match came on 95 minutes when Elding was denied the match ball. The ball was played across the six-yard box towards the striker whose shot was easily collected by the Drogs ‘keeper.
Rogers blew his whistle for the final time and brought the game to an end. A totally dominate display from Derry particularly in the second period sees the Candystripes move up to fifth place whereas Drogheda slump to seventh.
Derry City: Ger Doherty; Shaun Kelly, Ryan McBride, Shane McEleney (Seanan Clucas 71), Aaron Barry; Mark Timlin, Barry McNamee, Philip Lowry (Sean Houston 84), Joshua Daniels; Patrick McEleney (Ryan Curran 84), Anthony Elding.
Subs Not Used: Shaun Patton (gk), Nathan Boyle, Seamus Sharkey, Cillian Morrison.
Booked: McBride (31), Elding (75).
Drogheda Utd: Michael Schlingermann; Mick Daly, Lloyd Buckley, Joe Gorman, Jason Marks; Cathal Brady (Matty Rooney 70), Stephen Maher, Mark Hughes, Sean Brennan (Lee Duffy 46), Carl Walshe; Daryl Kavanagh (Michael Scott 81).
Subs Not Used: Dylan Connolly (gk), Robert O’Reilly, Shane Dunne, Tiarnan Mulvenna.
Booked: Maher (67).
Sent off: Jason Marks (74)
Referee: Robert Rogers
Attendance: 900 (Estimate)
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Anthony Elding (Derry City)
