Derry City 3 - 0 Bohemians

An outstanding team performance and another two goals for Eamon Zayed proved too much for a Bohemians side who played some good football themselves at the Brandywell on Friday night.

The opening half hour was fairly evenly contested, with Pat Fenlons’ men playing a good passing game and Derry looking to have more of a cutting edge in the final third. There were chances for McLean and Deery early on and a speculative lob cum shot from Chris Fagan which Barry Molloy had to hook off his own goal line.

The game sprung into life in the 29th minute when pacy winger James McLean charged down the left and crossed an inviting ball in towards Gareth McGlynn, who bundled the ball home to give the home side the lead. This was McGlynns’ seventh goal from midfield in what is turning out to be a great season for him.

The next 15 minutes provided a couple of half chances for both sides, including a Steven Hurley header which Ger Doherty was at full stretch to tip over. In the 44th minute Eamon Zayed received the ball with his back to goal 25 yards out and suddenly spun and lashed an unstoppable right footer into the bottom corner giving Barry Murphy no chance. It was an outstanding finish from the leagues most in form marksman.

The second period became a more open affair with Bohs having to go looking for goals and Derry excellent on the counter attack. Zayed, McLean and McGlynn all went agonisingly close to extending the lead. Liam Burns was also booked for scything down McLean on the edge of the area.

In the 80th minute McLean picked the ball up on the left and left the Bohemians captain Owen Heary in his wake before rolling it in for Zayed to coolly slot home his second of the game. Stephen Kenny then chose to bring Zayed off to a standing ovation from the home support just before Dave McKeown blew up for full time.

The result would suggest that Bohs didn’t play particularly well, but this would be unfair as they just ran into a Derry City side playing as well and as fluently as they have all season.

Derry City: Gerard Doherty; Barry Molloy (Eddie McCallion 65), Stewart Greacen, Shane McEleney, Danny Lafferty; Gareth McGlynn, Ruaidhri Higgins, Kevin Deery (c), James McLean; Patrick McEleney (Ruairi Harkin 69), Eamon Zayed (David McDaid 90).
Subs not used: Eugene Ferry, Ryan McBride, Michael McCrudden, Stephen McLaughlin.
Bookings: Danny Lafferty (68).

Bohemians: Barry Murphy; Owen Heary, Mark Rossiter, Aidan Price, Liam Burns; Steven Hurley (Chris Forrester 64), Glen Cronin, Keith Buckley (Eoin Fowler 71), Robert Bayly; Stephen Traynor, Chris Fagan (Shane Keely 83).
Subs not used: Craig Sexton, Roberto Lopez, Kevin Feely, Lee Dixon.
Bookings: Liam Burns (51).

Referee: Dave McKeon.
Attendance: 2,059
extratime.ie Man of the Match: Eamon Zayed.