SSE Airtricity League Premier Division
Derry City 0 Bohemians 1
DERRY City’s struggles continued as Bohemians secured a statement win at the Ryan McBride Brandywell thanks to Dawson Devoy’s sublime free-kick.
The Candystripes have been extremely disappointing in their opening three matches and, in truth, they were fortunate to only lose to Devoy’s second-half strike.
Alan Reynolds’ side had a host of chances and should have won by a bigger margin, and Derry boss Tiernan Lynch has already got problems as his new-look team continues to labour.
The Brandywell men gave goalkeeper Edward Beach a debut, despite only joining on-loan from Kilmarnock on Thursday, while Ben Doherty and Jamie Stott came into the starting line-up, replacing Adam O’Reilly and Rob Slevin, who dropped to the bench.
Bohs suffered an injury setback in the warm-up with frontman Douglas James-Taylor having to be replaced by Harry Vaughan.
The change didn’t seem to harm Bohs as they had the first chance early on. Colm Whelan’s left-wing cross found Ross Tierney and although he failed to connect with the ball properly, his close-range effort hit the post, before City cleared.
On 37 minutes, a neat cut-back from Vaughan found Senan Mullen, but his left-footed strike through a few players was booted away by Beach.
The woodwork came to Bohs’ rescue minutes later as Doherty’s 20-yard shot was deflected into James Clarke’s path inside the box. The ex-Bohs man cut inside from the right, but his toe-poked shot came back off the post.
On 55 minutes, a Dayle Rooney left-wing corner picked out Patrick Hickey at the near post, but the Bohs centre-back’s glancing header clipped the crossbar.
Moments later, Chorazka did well to keep out Carl Winchester’s superb 25-yard drive.
The deadlock was broken in stunning fashion as Devoy’s 25-yard free-kick from the left side of the box flew high into Beach’s top right corner, despite the keeper’s best attempts at trying to keep the ball out.
Soon after, more good play down the right ended with Tierney picking out Connor Parsons, but the substitute’s tame shot was straight at Beach.
The Dubliners went close to adding a second on 75 minutes but Rooney’s low shot was well kept out by Beach and the big Welsh keeper denied the midfielder again moments later.
On 80 minutes, City substitute Gavin White went close, but his goal-bound strike was blocked by a brave Sam Todd, after Chorazka had initially denied Josh Thomas.
Right at the death, Parsons was denied by Beach as Bohs should have netted a second in stoppage time.
Derry City Edward Beach, Ben Doherty, Jamie Stott, Patrick McClean, Brandon Fleming; Carl Winchester, James McClean; Darragh Markey (Gavin White 71), James Clarke (Dipo Akinyemi 71), Michael Duffy; Josh Thomas (Henry Rylah 90)
Bohemians Kacper Chorazka, Darragh Power, Patrick Hickey, Sam Todd, Senan Mullen; Dayle Rooney (Niall Morahan 82), Dawson Devoy, Jordan Flores (Adam McDonnell 88), Harry Vaughan (Connor Parsons 64); Ross Tierney (Cian Byrne 88); Colm Whelan (Hugh Martin 82)
Referee Marc Lynch
