Bohemians - 1 Derry City -  0: Fergal Harkine got the only goal of a stop-start game but Bohemians know they owe this win - their third under new manager Stephen Kenny - to goalkeeper Wayne Russell whose inspired first half display kept the hosts at bay and left Derry totally dispirited.

The first half will be one Padraig Moran will not want reminding of as the Derry striker wasted no fewer than four clear-cut chances, outfoxed each time by Russell, as Derry found themselves behind to the superbly taken winner at the interval.

That came on 14 minutes following a flowing move down the left flank. Mark Dempsey provided much of the industry with a one-two move with Trevor Molloy before his accurate cross was flicked on by Gary O'Neill for the arriving Harkin to shoot home at the back post.

Derry might have been two up by then, however, as Moran was twice through on goal courtesy of Liam Coyle and then Eamonn Doherty had chances only to have his weak efforts saved by Russell.

Then, within three minutes around the half-hour mark, Moran again found himself with only Russell to beat. Once again the Bohemians goalkeeper won the duel with good stops.

The inspired Russell was then called into action twice more in the closing minutes of the half and made some more excellent saves from a Gareth McGlynn curling shot and tipped over a free kick from the ever dangerous Coyle.

The second half never quite lived up to what went on in the first as Derry inexplicably faded out of the game.

Bohemians should have added to their winning margin as the game drew to a close.

Glen Crowe, the Premier Division's second highest scorer with 12 goals, who was scarcley involved in the game up to then was inches wide with a diving header from Harkin's cross on 74 minutes.

Crowe then set up Harkin six minutes later to put the midfielder in on goal. But the matchwinner hurried his shot and sent the ball way over the top of Russell Payne's crossbar.

Derry did have the ball in the Bohemianss net seven minutes from time, but a flag for offside was long up before Tommy McCallion shot home from McGlynn's pass to disallow the goal.

BOHEMIANS: Russell; Shelley, Hawkins, John, Mark Dempsey; Harkin, Caffrey, Hunt; O'Neill (Folan half-time), Crowe, Molloy.

DERRY CITY: Payne; E McCallion, Kelly, McLaughlin (Hughes 81), Hargan; Doherty, Phillips, T McCallion, McGlynn; Coyle, Moran (Beckett 60).

Referee: J O'Neill (Waterford)