Derry City 0 Shelbourne 0: Shelbourne failed to increase their lead over Bohemians by more than a point at the summit of the Premier Division table, but manager Pat Fenlon was happy with this share of the spoils at a wet Brandywell on Saturday night.

The Tolka Park "reds" may have enjoyed the better of the scoring chances against Derry City, but Fenlon was content not to have lost the match.

"It's a case of as you were at the top of the table and we've put another difficult game behind us," he said "Derry are scrapping for points at the other end of the table and, with Bohemians to travel here twice before the end of the season, it could make matters very interesting," he added.

Describing his side's performance as "disappointing" Fenlon agreed that it was probably a fair result in the end.

"Derry had a go at it to be fair to them, while we probably had the better chances and didn't take them, and that was disappointing. It would have been a great game to win but, then again, we've reached a stage in the season when so many sides, at the top and bottom of the table, are fearful of losing matches.

"As I've said, I'm happy with a point as we didn't play as well as we can."

Derry boss, Gavin Dykes was the happier of the managers.

"To face Shelbourne with three senior players absent and then lose our captain, Eamon Doherty, at half-time, made this match very, very difficult for us," he said.

"But we battled and the players worked their socks off. We competed with them, and given that we've taken four points from a possible six over the last five days, we have to be very happy," declared the Sligo man.

Missing Peter Hutton and Michael Holt (both suspended), and striker Liam Coyle with a calf problem, the new-look Derry side refused to be intimidated.

For Shelbourne, Stuart Byrne really should have done better in the 16th minute when be blazed a Jamie Harris knockdown over the bar. And in the 39th minute, the same player failed to hit the target after Jason Byrne had set him up.

But Derry went so close in the 56th minute when the lively Sean Friars headed Kevin Deery's cross agonising wide.

DERRY CITY: Gough; McCallion, Clery, McLaughlin, Hargan; Deery, Doherty, Martyn, Friars; McGlynn, Beckett. Subs: Farren for Doherty (h-t).

SHELBOURNE: Williams; Heary, Rodgers, Doherty, Crawley; Cahill, S Byrne, Crawford, Hoolahan; J Byrne, Harris. Subs: Baker for Hoolahan (70 mins), McCarthy for Harris (85 mins).

Referee: Ian Stokes (Dublin).