NATIONAL LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION:BOHEMIANS returned to the Premier Division summit following this slender victory at the Brandywell last night following what was a disciplined performance.
Content to defend their lead with half an hour remaining, that ploy served Pat Fenlon’s men well as Derry huffed and puffed in the front line but failed to blow the determined defence down.
The result now sets up an interesting clash in the already sold-out Tallaght Stadium next Friday night when Fenlon’s men travel to face Shamrock Rovers.
And with Rovers boss Michael O’Neill an interested spectator, he will be the first to admit Rovers must produce something special if they are to overhaul the champions.
In a highly entertaining and flowing game, both sides created scoring opportunities during the early stages. Derry goalkeeper Ger Doherty did well to parry a Killian Brennan free over this crossbar.
At the other end, Ruaidhri Higgins played Mark Farren in but in the one-on-one situation the Derry striker crashed the ball into the side netting when he should have forced Brian Murphy into a save.
But Bohemians drew blood in the 17th minute and, in truth, the home side played their part in that goal.
Farren’s stray pass, following a throw-in on the right, was intercepted by Brennan and his lightning break, from well inside his half, caught the home defence out.
With Paddy Madden keeping pace with the left winger, Brennan intelligently played the striker in and he netted with aplomb, giving Doherty no chance.
Bohemians could have doubled their lead three minutes later. A high cross from the left evaded the home defence, and with Madden unmarked at the back post Doherty pulled off a superb stop to deny the striker a second goal.
Derry responded on the half hour when Eddie McCallion worked his way in behind the back four, and when he found Tam McManus with a low cut-back, Brian Shelley stretched out a leg to block the Scot’s goal-bound effort.
In the 37th minute Derry went close again, Kearney having set McManus up, but his shot on the turn from 12 yards was well saved by the alert Murphy.
In the 55th minute a Derry defensive clearance was charged down, and when the ball broke to Madden in the clear he rounded Doherty but lost control of the ball and a glorious chance was lost.
However, on the hour mark it was clear Bohemians were happy to defend their slender lead as two solid backs of four presented Derry with great difficulty in penetrating.
And happy to allow Derry control the possession inside their own half, it was a disciplined ploy which saw the home side struggle in the final third.
With 15 minutes remaining a Farren shot was deflected wide at the expense of a corner with Derry players appealing for handball, but referee Richie Winters was not in agreement.
Substitute Sammy Morrow was presented with a chance in the 90th minute, but he ballooned the ball over the crossbar as Bohemians reclaimed their position on top of the table.
DERRY CITY:Doherty; McCallion (Morrow, 78), Delaney (McEleney, h-t), Hutton, O'Brien; McGlynn, Higgins, Molloy, Kearney (Stewart, 73); McManus, Farren.
BOHEMIANS:Murphy; Hearty, Shelley, Oman, Powell; Brennan, Cronin, Keegan, Ndo; Byrne (Crowe, 69), Madden (A Murphy, 87).
Referee:R Winters (Wicklow).
