Derry City labour to shake off Bohemians

Derry City 1 Bohemians 0

While Kenny Shiels’ side certainly deserved to win, they really should have ended this fixture as a contest much earlier having failed to build on their 13th-minute lead.

And with just one goal separating the sides, the home lot experienced a very nervous finish, with Bohemians only applying serious pressure during the latter stages of the second half.

Having started well and clearly dominated the opening period, Derry’s Nathan Boyle squandered two chances during the opening 10 minutes.

Indeed, the winger caused Bohs no shortage of problems but he failed to hit the target with his first effort, before Dean Delany saved his cross-shot.

However, Derry’s persistence reaped dividends in the 13th minute.

Keith Ward produced a superb reverse pass which sent Barry McNamee scampering clear. However, as the midfielder appeared to loose his footing when challenged by the advancing keeper, the ball broke into the path of Rory Patterson who lashed the ball home for his sixth league strike of the season from a tight angle.

Kurtis Byrne ballooned an effort over the Derry crossbar in the 19th minute and the same player failed to control the ball on the half hour, when well placed inside the danger area.

Derry hit back with Patterson failing to divert Boyle’s cross while Delany did well to punch a thunderous drive from Boyle of his defence in the 40th minute.

Bohemians went close to equalising during injury time but Ger Doherty did well to block Eoin Wearen’s fierce shot before the ball was whipped to safety.

Following the change of ends, Derry continued to huff and puff in the front line, but they failed to seriously trouble Delany while Bohs, having introduced Mark Quigley at the start of the second half, failed to produce that vital cutting edge.

DERRY CITY: G. Doherty; Vemmelund, McBride, McClean, McDermott; McCormack, McEneff; Boyle (Curtis, 83), McNamee, Ward (R. Doherty, 90); Patterson.

BOHEMIANS: Delany; D. Byrne, Prendergast, Mulcahy, Fitzgerald; Kavanagh, Lopes, Wearen, Ben Mohamed (Kelly, 70); Buckley, K. Byrne.

Referee: P. Tuite (Dublin).