Derry City 1
Bohemians 0
RORY PATTERSON’s sixth goal of the season proved decisive as Derry City dug deep to overcome Bohemians and secure a fourth home league victory of the campaign.
It was the Candystripes’ ninth game unbeaten; a seventh win in nine matches and their fifth home victory in all competitions.
And while it was far from a convincing display from Kenny Shiels’ troops, Patterson’s first-half strike proved decisive.
Derry had dominated the early chances, and Nathan Boyle was presented with the first opportunity on three minutes, when he took down Patrick McClean’s crossfield ball, before racing towards goal, but his strike went wide of the post.
And on 14 minutes, Ward played a beautifully executed reverse pass through the heart of the Bohs defence to McNamee, who lost his footing with only the keeper to beat. However, Patterson was alert to the loose ball and made no mistake with a close-range finish.
Byrne tried his luck from distance four minutes later, but his dipping shot went narrowly over the bar.
The Bohs striker really should have equalised on the half-hour mark when he took down Wearen’s sublime pass over the top on the chest, but he somehow missed the ball and the chance was lost.
Boyle then had his powerful effort palmed away by Delany five minutes before the break, while Niclas Vemmelund subsequently blasted high and wide from a promising position.
Eoin Wearen tested Gerard Doherty with what proved his last action of the game in first-half stoppage time, but the keeper punched away his long-distance strike.
McNamee was sent scampering clear on the hour mark by a first-time Ward pass, but the Donegal man screwed his shot harmlessly into the hands of Delany.
Derry City: G. Doherty; N. Vemmelund, R. McBride, P. McClean, C. McDermott; C. McCormack, A. McEneff; K. Ward, B. McNamee, N. Boyle (R. Curtis 84); R. Patterson; Subs Not Used – S. Patton, J. Blake, R. Wilson, R. Doherty, J. Daniels, J. Allen.
Bohemians: D. Delany; L. Fitzgerald, R. Lopes, D. Prendergast, D. Mulcahy; A. Ben Mohamed (J. Kelly 70), D. Byrne, E. Wearen (M. Quigley h-t), K. Buckley, P. Kavanagh; K. Byrne; L. Stacey, J. Caffrey, P. Rooney, S. Best.
Referee - Paul Tuite.
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