Late winner for Drogheda

Derry City 1 Drogheda United 2

Sami Ristila scored a late winner to throw a real spanner in Derry’s title hopes and get Drogheda back in with a shout of challenging for the title themselves.

Ristila struck on 82 minutes to punished a blunder between David Forde and skipper Peter Hutton to shoot the ball home.

Derry bossed possession for the opening half hour with Kevin McHugh trice coming close on four and 13 minutes.

Drogheda came more into the game as it wore on and Paul Keegan’s long-range shot on 24 minute was easily dealt with by Derry keeper David Forde.

The sides swapped goals inside a minute early in the second half.

Drogheda took the lead on 49 minutes when Forde flapped at Paul Keegan’s corner under pressure from Eamon Zayed and the ball ended up in the net.

But Derry hit back immediately with Ciaran Martyn bursting through from midfield to fire past Dan Connor.