DERRY CITY were forced to wait until the 94th minute before confirming victory over basement side, Drogheda United, at the Brandywell.

And while the Candystripes were always in control in this game, when leading 1-0 at the break, the suffered a nervous ending until netting that all important insurance goal.

Indeed, it was an  imporrtant evening for full-back Eddie McCallion - who celebrated his 500th competitive appearance and was made captain for the occasion.

Clearly reflecting back on the demolition of UCD at this venue last Friday night, the home side were low to get into their normal free flowing passing rhythm.

While the game was certainly no where near the quality of last Friday night's 7-0 victoy, Brandywell boss, Stephen  Kenny, will not be concerned as he now waits for his next game against Bray at this venue on Friday week.

In what proved a disappointing first half, Drogheda actualy started juchthe brighter and it was Mick Cooke's men who threatened first.

Midfielder, Cillian Thomposon, directing a shot wide of the target in the 12th minute which began to wake Derry up from their slumber.

They eventually got to grips withthe affair and but for a superb block by Drogheda centre half Alan McNally in the 18th minute Patrick McEleney was destined to open the scoring.

The home side eventually broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute following a fluent move.

McEleney sent Eamon Zayed scampering clear on the right and his deep cross was met by the head of Kevin Deery at the back post for what was a soft goal.

But Drogheda went close to restoring equality in the 35th minute when Darragh Hanaphy beat the offside tra[ nut after bnursting into the area the striker could only drill his shot into the side netting.

The home sideupped the tempo after the break and began to pass the ball with Danny Lafferty, James McClean and Zayed all threatening to double the home side's slender lead.

In the 67th minute Zayed drove the ball into the Drogheda net but an alert referee's assistant denied him when raising his flag for offside.

Derry continued to push forward but poor decision making in the final third proved cosstly with both Zayed and substitute Stephen McLaughlin making poor choices.

And while the visitors punted the ball forward at every available opportunity in search of an equaliser, they were caught on the break with a classic move.

Derry broke four minutes into additional time when substitute, Ruairi Harkin, carried the ball from deep inside his own half to set up Zayed for an easy finish against one of his fornmer clbs.

DERRY CITY: Doherty, McCallion, Gtreacen, S McEleney, Lafferty, McGlynn, Higgins (McBride 57) Deery (Harkin 63), McClean, P McEleney (McLaughlin 76), Zayed.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Trimble, Nolan, McNally, Ekanem, Hand, Freeman (Corcoran 72), Flynn (O'Brien H-T), Thompson, Gannon, McNamara (Skelly 80), Hanaphy.

Referee: D Tomney (Dublin)