Brian King, son of the Irish international ladies team and former boss at the Brandywell, was hailed the Drogheda hero on Foyleside last night, his 88th minute winning goal extending the Boynesider unbeaten run to six matches

The midfielder, born in Derry's Altnagelvin Hospital while his father led the Brandywell side, got his head to a cross from the left during Drogheda's only serious attack in the second half to seriously dent the Candystripes championship aspirations.

And that sucker punch, will be hard to take for the home lot, who now surrender second spot in the league to Shamrock Rovers who defeated Bray.

Derry had dominated the second period but the Drogheda back four stood tall with keeper, Paul Skinner also playing an integral role in what what could prove a vital victory for the visitors.

In what was a lively first half with both sides crashing efforts of the upright, the home side owned the ball after the break.

Derry's Mark Farren did well to get onto the end of a David Scullion cross after just four minutes but shot dropped on the wrong side of the far post.

At the other end Drogheda's Paul Crowley flashed a shot wide of the target when well placed but Jamie Duffy really should have broken the deadlock for the visitors in the 12th minute.

With Derry failed to adequately clear their lines following a corner, Duffy was presented with a 'free' header from six yards but he failed to get the adequate power into his effort.

Derry's Gareth McGlynn was unlucky with a speculative lob in the 22nd minute while Drogheda's Shane Barrett struck the post with a low shot six minutes later.

And in the 44th minute, Clive Delaney won possession near the bye-line and when he found Farren, his diving header crashed off the upright before the ball was whipped to safety.

Brandywell boss, Stephen Kenny, made a double substitution in the 57th minute and one of those changes, Tam McManus, could have scored with his first touch.

Following a Ruaidhri Higgins free on the right, the Scot directed his header straight into the arms of Drogheda keeper, Paul Skinner, from close range when he should have done better.

The home began to dominate the ball but the failed to break through what proved a stubborn Drogheda defence.

As the game moved into the final 10 minutes, a Farren cross from the left was met by Sammy Morrow but he failed to hit the target.

With just two minutes remaining Skinner earned his wages with a superb stop after Higgins had drilled the ball through a ruck of players.

However, it was Drogheda who had the final say when King got onto a cross from Ian Ryan to effectively silence the Brandywell as Derry City lost back-to-back games.

Derry City: Doherty; O'Brien, Delaney, Hutton, McCallion (McClean 80); Scullion (Molloy 57), Higgins, McGlynn, Stewart (McManus, 57); Morrow, Farren.

Drogheda United: Skinner; Ryan, McNally, Kenna, Clarke; King, Crowley (Chambers, 27), Shiels, Martin (McGill, 77); Duffy, Barrett. (Woods, 90)

Referee: Mr. P. Tuite (Dublin).