DERRY CITY...0 DROGHEDA UNITED...1Derry City's season continued to frustrate at the Brandywell last night when Drogheda United secured a victory having been forced on the back foot for much of a lively game.

The home side struggled up front and compounding their woes was an 84th-minute penalty miss by substitute Ciarán Martyn.

Drogheda defended stubbornly throughout a one-sided second half, successfully defending their sixth-minute lead. Former Derry player Shaun Gallagher's low cross reached Mark Quinless who slid the ball home from 12 yards.

But the home side should have been level having spurned two chances within the space of three minutes. In the 15th minute Gareth McGlynn took a touch too many when in a scoring position while Eamon Doherty also missed a good chance.

In the 28th minute Eddie McCallion crashed a shot off the Drogheda crossbar and with the final effort of the first-half, Seán Hargan headed over the crossbar.

Derry boss Kevin Mahon made a positional switch after the break when forcing Hargan forward and the defender brought the best out of Drogheda goalkeeper Gary Rogers in the 64th minute. Two minutes later Rogers did well again to deny Hargan. Derry captain Eamon Doherty had the ball in the net in the 81st minute but his headed effort was ruled offside.

Frustrations for Derry grew worse in the 84th minute when referee David McKeon awarded the home side a penalty after Gary Cronin had handled. However, substitute Martyn drove the ball directly at Rogers.

DERRY CITY: Petterson, McCallion, Hargan, Hutton, McLaughlin (Martyn, 57 mins.), Doherty, McChrystal, Moran, Beckett, McGlynn, Friars (Deery, 49 mins.)

Drogheda United: Rogers, O'Connor, Cronin, Jones, Gallogley, Gallagher, Tierney, Beesley, Myler (Flanagan, 82 mins.), O'Brien, Quinless.

Referee: D McKeon (Dublin).