Bohemians ... 3 Derry City ... 2 Bohemians maintained their positive start to the season with a third successive victory, winning by a scoreline that flattered a Derry side that remains pointless.

Goals from the influential Barry Ryan, Glen Crowe and Stephen Caffrey brushed Derry aside; the visitors' late brace of goals was mere consolation.

In a patternless first half, it took almost half-an-hour for the first real bit of football to bring us the first opening of the game.

Paddy McLaughlin put Ciaran Martyn in behind the Bohemians defence down the inside right channel. Martyn might have gone for goal himself but pulled the ball back for Liam Coyle who, falling over, saw his weak shot well parried away by Ashley Bayes.

That appeared to awaken a sluggish Bohemians, who then created three chances in quick succession, and the league leaders grabbed the lead right on 45 minutes from a superb, flowing move.

Simon Webb began it with a surging run from midfield to put Rutherford away and one winger's cross was finished to the net by the other, Ryan firing home first time with his right foot.

Bohemians upped the tempo from the restart and scored again on 52 minutes when Glen Crow blasted to the roof of the net after striker partner Keegan headed down a long ball.

Bohemians added their third goal on 78 minutes. Webb worked the ball to Rutherford whose cross was headed home by substitute Stephen Caffrey.

Derry rallied late on with Martyn shooting home their first goal from Jamie Hughes' pass on 84 minutes. Their second came deep into stoppage time, when Martyn laid the ball off for Gary Beckett to drill his shot to the net through the legs of Bayes.

BOHEMIANS: Bayes; Lynch, Hawkins, McNally, S. Webb; Ryan (Caffrey 69), Hunt (Morrison 83), Harkin, Rutherford; Crowe, Keegan (O'Neill 80).

DERRY CITY: Gough; McLaughlin, Kelly, E McCallion, Hargan; Martyn, McGlynn (McCaul 73), Hutton, Friars; Coyle (Hughes 73), Beckett.

Referee: A Kelly (Dublin)