Derry slip further in title race

Derry City - 1 Bohemians - 1: Shelbourne extended their lead at the summit of the Premier Division after Derry City were held at the Brandywell last night by an under-strength but lively Bohemians.

And while Derry may have laid siege to the Bohemians goal throughout the second half, they appeared to struggle in the final third.

Now nine points behind Shelbourne but with three games in hand, it was Shelbourne who would have been celebrating last night's 1-0 victory away to Waterford.

Derry's only consolation, if it could be called that, coming in the fact that their unbeaten record at home this season remains intact.

The home side may have got off to a lively start, forcing Bohemians back, but it was the Dubliners who broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute.

Mark Leitch sent Stephen Ward scampering clear on the left and his low cross into the danger area found the unmarked Kevin Hunt who drove the ball low into the net from 16 yards.

Derry struggled to seriously threatened the Bohemians defence but they did go close to equalising on the half hour when Kevin McHugh let fly from 20 yards, the striker's shot screaming narrowly wide of Stephen O'Brien's upright.

And on the stroke of half-time a Gareth McGlynn cross from the right was recklessly driven over the bar by McHugh when he may have been better advised to go for the header.

Eager to breach what had been a resolute Bohemians defence during the early stages of the second half, the Candy Stripes had their wish granted in the 54th minute.

Eddie McCallion cut the ball back when in the corner and when McGlynn's deep cross sailed towards the back post, McHugh ghosted in to volley the ball high into the net.

Derry continued to boss the ball but with Barry Ferguson and Jason McGuinness constantly winning the aerial duels, the home side's attempts to move into the driving seat floundered in the final third.

In the 71st minute the home side went close again, Darren Kelly's shot touched onto the crossbar and over by O'Brien.

And Derry spurned a glorious chance to win it in the 82nd minute when substitute Gary Beckett played McHugh in, but the advancing O'Brien did well to parry the shot from close range.

With two minutes remaining Beckett had a chance to snatch the points but his header from a Stephen O'Flynn cross failing to find the target.

DERRY CITY: Forde; McCallion (Higgins, 83 mins), Kelly, Oman, Holmes; McGlynn, Molloy, Deery, Brennan (Beckett, 77 mins); McHugh, Farren (O'Flynn, 80 mins).

BOHEMIANS: O'Brien; O'Reilly, McGuinness, Ferguson, Powell; O'Keefe, Heary, Hunt, Ward; Leitch (Fitzgerald, 73 mins), Dunphy (Caffrey, 80 mins)

Referee: H Whoriskey (Meath).