League Report: Derry City 1 - 2 Bohemians
In a game which Derry dominated for large periods, it was Bohemians who came out on top in the Brandywell on Friday night, thanks to strikes from Kealan Dillon and Marc Griffin that ensured Bohs' undefeated away record remained intact.
The game started rather quickly and Derry went very close to the opener after just seven minutes, Patrick McEleney showed great ability and pace to beat the Bohemians captain Derek Pender to get to the end line. The lively midfielder then poked` his cross across the box where Lowry was able to get his head to the ball, however he couldn't convert.
However minutes later, the Derry central midfielder made no mistake and opened the scoring on the night. The ball found its way across the 18-yard box where Lowry was lurking again and the no.8 was able to strike the ball past Dean Delaney in the Bohs net.
Derry began to cement their domination but after 25 minutes of play, they were pegged back by Bohs. Kealan Dillon caught onto a chested ball from Roberto Lopes just outside the Derry box and volleyed the ball wonderfully into the top corner.
After their equaliser, Bohs looked a completely different team and went close after half an hour to pulling in front. It was Kealan Dillon who went very close to doubling his tally, Patrick Kavanagh gained possession on the left side and floated the ball towards Dillon in the box but he was unable to convert and headed just over.
Derry had a chance before half time to go ahead again. Great quick passing from Mark Timlin and Barry McNamee seen Timlin burst in on goal although just as the winger was about to pull the trigger and likely put his team in front, covering midfielder Lopes made a great last ditch tackle to divert it out for a corner with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Derry started the second period very well and possibly should have had their second goal on the hour mark. Patrick McEleney launched the corner into the box from the far side where returning Derry captain Ryan McBride headed the ball towards goal although Delaney eventually collected after a deflection off Anthony Murphy.
With the game entering its final twenty minutes Patrick McEleney was stretchered off which left the game a little flat although, we did have a winner twelve minutes from time. Two ex-Derry players combined to give the travelling players all three points, Patrick Kavanagh displayed great pace to get down the right side before playing a low cross along the box where Marc Griffin was able to fire home uncontested.
Derry searched for the equaliser for the remainder of the game and had one last big opportunity to equalise on 87 minutes. Mark Timlin had a thunderous free-kick effort rocket off the crossbar in the direction of the onrushing Cillian Morrison although he was also unable to convert the rebound and could only head over.
Derry City: Gerard Doherty; Dean Jarvis, Ryan McBride, Shane McEleney, Aaron Barry; Sean Houston (Ryan Curran 46), Barry McNamee, Philip Lowry (Cillian Morrison 74), Mark Timlin, Seanan Clucas; Patrick McEleney (Anthony Elding 71).
Subs not used: Shaun Patton (gk), Josh Daniels, Patrick McLean, George Kelly.
Bookings: Houston (38).
Bohemians: Dean Delaney; Derek Pender, Anthony Murphy, Derek Pendergast, Lorcan Fitzgerald; Patrick Kavanagh, Kealon Dillon, Roberto Lopes, Keith Buckley (Dave Mulcahy 62); Marc Griffin (Jason Byrne 90); Dean Kelly (Karl Moore 85).
Subs not used: Lee Stacey (gk), Stephen Best, Adam Evans, Jamie O’Brien.
Bookings: P Kavanagh (86).
Referee: Neil Doyle
Attendance: 1,124.
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Marc Griffin (Bohemians)