Clinical Bohemians take the initiative

DERRY CITY...0 BOHEMIANS...3Leaders of the Premier Division table for all of 72 hours throughout this season, Bohemians returned to the top at a wet and breezy Brandywell last night following this victory.

Now one point clear of nearest championship challengers Shelbourne, Stephen Kenny's men have again set the scene for another crucial top-of-the-table meeting at Dalymount Park this Friday night.

With slick passing and great movement off the ball, Bohemians looked bright but it was their clinical finishing which devastated a frustrated home side.

For Derry, it's now a case of facing up to the fact that they could find themselves playing First Division football next season - team boss Gavin Dykes has four matches left to turn the tide.

The Dubliners couldn't have asked for a better start last night when, after just five minutes, they broke the deadlock.

Derry defender Paddy McLaughlin was adjudged to have fouled Paul Keegan on the edge of the Derry penalty area and Bobby Ryan stepped up to curl a superb free-kick low into Alan Gough's net.

The home side were unfortunate at the other end 13 minutes later when a Sean Friar's free whizzed wide of the post with Shay Kelly diving at full stretch.

But it got even better for Bohemians in the 29th minute when they doubled their lead.

A deep cross from the right by Damien Lynch found the head of the totally unmarked Dave Morrison and his looping effort found the inside of the far post.

With play sweeping from end to end, Derry went close again in the 36th minute. A Sean Hargan cross found Peter Hutton and when he fed Ciaran Martyn, Kelly saved Bohemians' blushes when he made a superb point-blank save at the expense of a corner.

But Derry's difficulties were seriously compounded when they lost the services of two players to injury within a five-minute spell at the end of the first half.

Friars was forced to limp off with an ankle injury in the 41st minute and four minutes later midfielder, Hutton, was stretchered off with a similar ailment.

Forced to switch to a 3-5-2 formation, and with the wind at their backs, the home side surged forward and within two minutes of the restart they created two glorious chances.

A Gary Beckett shot from 25 yards was parried by Kelly before substitute Michael Holt flashed a free header across the face of goal when he really should have scored. The home side continued to battle and on the hour were denied again by Kelly who somehow block Holt's snapshot inside his six yard area.

But it was Bohemians who had the final say in the 81st minute following a corner. Dave Morrison floated the ball into the danger area and when it was beaten out by the home defence into the path of Kevin Hunt, the Bohemians' captain drilled the ball low through a ruck of players into the corner from the edge of the area.

DERRY CITY: Gough; McCallion, Simms, McLaughlin, Hargan; Hutton, Doherty, Martyn, McGlynn; Friars, Beckett. Subs: Holt for Friars (41 mins); Deery for Hutton (45 mins); Farren for Hargan (76 mins).

BOHEMIANS: Kelly; Lynch, Hawkins, Oman, Webb; Ryan, Caffrey, Hunt, Morrison; Keegan, Crowe. Subs: Harkin for Keegan (70 mins); Doyle for Crowe (84 mins).

Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).