A quick fire double salvo in the opening minutes of the second half saw Derry get back to winning ways following a run of four games without a victory against bottom of the table Drogheda. 

The basement side put in a reasonable showing during the opening half but the manner in which the visitors breached their defence will give cause for concern.  But there was little the United rearguard could do about City’s third in stoppage time when Mark Farren completed a memorable hat-trick as he volleyed to the roof of the net from just inside the box. 

Derry created the first opening after six minutes when Ciaran Martyn right in front of goal was only a whisker away from getting a touch on Thomas Stewart’s cross from left.

However as the half wore on Drogheda began to dominate and with 21 minutes gone Ian Ryan thread a neat pass through to Jamie Duffy whose shot was turned out for a corner by keeper Gerard Doherty.  Sixty seconds later David O’Connor advanced unchallenged from inside the Derry half to the edge of the box where he tried to pick his spot in the top right corner of the net but Doherty rose majestically to get a glove on the ball and tip it out for a corner. 

In a rare City attack Barry Molloy’s shot from 30 yards wasn’t far away,  however, seven minutes from the break it was the home side who threatened to break the deadlock once more. 

James Cambers whipped a free from the right low into the box which was met by Conor Kenna who unfortunately directed the ball into the arms of Doherty.  With the second half just three minutes old a heretofore solid Drogheda defence conceded the softest of goals when half time sub James McClean was afforded the freedom of the park down the left before crossing for Mark Farren who rose unchallenged to head the ball home. 

Four minutes later the game effectively ended as a contest when Derry went two up courtesy of another all too easily executed score.  On this occasion Kevin Deery supplied Farren with the pass that put him in the clear as he coolly lifted the ball over keeper Steve Williams to the net. 

The remainder of the match proved to be a rather tame affair as Derry defended their lead comfortably with the best the losers could muster a shot on the volley by Alan McNally which Doherty dealt with comfortably.  

But the best wine was reserved for last when Farren grabbed his third goal of the night when he drove his shot in spectacular fashion past Williams to wrap up the win for the Candystripes.

Drogheda: Williams, Ryan, Clarke, Kenna, McNally, Shiels, Whelan, Chambers, Duffy, Woods (Barrett 74), O’Connor (King 80). 

Derry:  Doherty, McCallion, Hutton (McClean h/t), McChrystal, Gray, Martyn, Morrow, Stewart, Deery (Scullion 81), Molloy, Farren. 

Referee:  A. Kelly (Cork)