League of Ireland Premier Division
Bohemians…(1) 2
Clarke (13); Afolabi (53)
Derry City…(2) 2
Duffy (22); Mullen (43)
DERRY CITY secured a deserved share of the spoils, at Bohemians, in one of the most entertaining matches of the season.
While both sides will feel they had their chances to win the game, a point apiece was probably the fairest outcome.
The plus sign for the Candy Stripes will be that they showed a tremendous never-say die-attitude to coming from behind and striker Daniel Mullen also opened his goalscoring account, which could be crucial in the run-in.
This end to end encounter really was like a basketball game at times with both sides creating a host of clear-cut chances and really was a great advert for League of Ireland football.
Credit must go to both managers, Declan Devine and Ruaidhrí Higgins, as they set up their teams to attack and at no stage did they try to settle for a point.
There were almost no Friday night lights, as after a 45 minute delay because of floodlight failure at Dalymount Park, the sold-out encounter finally got underway.
The home side settled the better and really should have taken the lead after just 90 seconds as Jordan Flores' header back into the six-yard box found an unmarked Jonathan Afolabi, but the striker completely missed his kick with the goal at his mercy.
Bohs deservedly broke the deadlock on 13 minutes as James Clarke raced right through the City defence from midfield to latch onto Paddy Kirk's pass, before calmly slotting the ball home past an out-rushing Brian Maher.
City's poor start got even worse moments later as experienced centre-back Mark Connolly had to be replaced by Shane McEleney, after the former Dundalk man failed to recover from an ankle problem, which he picked up in the early moments.
The visitors levelled things somewhat against the run of play on 22 minutes as left-winger Michael Duffy found space inside the box to control Paul McMullan's pass at the back post, before seeing his left footed strike from close range took a slight deflection past Bohs keeper James Talbot.
The entertaining clash should have seen the home side regain the lead minutes later as Flores' lovely pass found Danny Grant, but after the winger broke the City offside trap, his touch let him down inside six yards and the ball raced out of play, much to the visitors' relief.
Derry should have taken the lead just after the half-hour mark as Patching's superb reverse pass released Daniel Mullen, but the striker's left foot shot from just inside the box, which had Talbot beaten, whistled just past the keeper's left-hand post.
Another counter attacking move ended with Dylan Connolly's low centre from the right found Afolabi at the near post, but the big striker fired wide from close range.
Derry took the lead on 43 minutes as Ciaran Coll's high cross back into the box found Mullen and his powerful header sailed over Talbot, to spark wild celebrations amongst the travelling support.
The Brandywell men went close to adding a second on 49 minutes but McMullan's stinging drive from the edge of the box was straight at Talbot.
Bohs were rightfully awarded a penalty on 52 minutes as Clarke played the ball in behind Sadou Diallo to find Adam McDonnell and the City midfielder's sliding challenge only brought down the midfielder as he crossed. Referee Robert Harvey pointed to the post and Afolabi fired home from 12 yards, smashing the ball down the middle of the goal. Just after the hour mark, City's danger man McMullan created space on the right. His cross found Mullen, but his glancing header was tipped over by Talbot.
The woodwork came to Bohs' rescue soon after as Ben Doherty's 20-yard strike came back off the crossbar, with Talbot possibly getting a touch to the effort onto the bar.
Right at the death, Adam McDonnell went close to winning it for the Dubliner's but his curling effort was straight at Maher, who saved easily.
Bohemians: Talbot, Buckley, Nowak, Radkowski, Kirk; Flores, McDonnell; Connolly (McDaid 64), Clarke, Grant (Coote 80); Afolabi (O'Sullivan 88).
Derry City: Maher, Coll, Connolly (S McEleney 18), McJannet, Doherty; Diallo (P McEleney 64), O’Reilly, Patching; McMullan, Mullen (McGonigle 80), Duffy.
Referee: Robert Harvey (Dublin).
