Killian Phillips header lifts Drogheda past wasteful Candystripes

Killian Phillips of Drogheda United heads his side's first goal during the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division match between Drogheda United and Derry City at United Park in Drogheda, Louth. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Drogheda United 1 Derry City 0

Derry City’s good run came to an abrupt end at Head in the Game Park yesterday, Drogheda United recording a surprise 1-0 victory.

Killian Phillips headed the game’s only goal just before the break and Drogheda defended stubbornly after half-time to move away from the relegation play-off spot, leapfrogging neighbours Dundalk in the process.

Ruaidhri Higgins’ men may have dominated possession but never did enough to trouble the home defence.

Derry opened on the front foot when Joe Thomson’s right-wing corner found Ronan Boyce at the near post, but his powerful header was blocked by Gary Deegan.

Derry huffed and puffed and when Jamie McGonigle flicked the ball into the path of Evan McLaughlin, the teenager’s angled shot screamed wide of the upright.

The deadlock was broken six minutes before the break in Drogheda’s first serious attack. Darragh Markey’s right-wing corner found an unmarked Mark Doyle. His header rebounded off the post and the alert Phillips was on hand to head home.

Derry responded well and went close to equalising when Thomson’s powerful free-kick whistled just past Odumosu’s post.

Phillips went close to scoring a second but his strike was deflected over by Eoin Toal.

Derry squandered a glorious chance when a cross from the left from Coll was met by Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe, but the striker’s diving header fizzed wide.

Drogs should have wrapped the points up at the death when James Brown broke out and found substitute Ahu Obhakhan, but the striker’s shot was saved by Nathan Gartside.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Odumosu, Brown, Redmond, O’Reilly, Kane (Simon 66), Massey, Phillips, Deegan, Markey (Heeney 63), Doyle, Lyons (Adeyemo 58).

DERRY CITY: Gartside, Boyce (Malone ht),Toal, McJannet, Coll, McLaughlin (Fitzgerald, 53); Harkin (Hery 53), Thomson, Akintunde (Walsh 85); McGonigle, Junior.

Referee: P. McLaughlin (Donegal).