Poised Patching makes Gypsies pay the penalty

Derry City

1 Bohemians 1

ARTHUR DUFFY

DERRY City remain on the summit of the Premier

Division table, but they had to rely on a dodgy penalty decision agfainst Bohemians,

The Gypsies opened on the front foot and after just seven minutes centre-back Ciaran Kelly headed a decent chance over before Liam Burt forced Derry keeper Brian Maher to diving low to gather possession minutes later.

The visitors then broke the deadlock in the 14th minute.

Brandon Kavanagh failed to control a loose ball and the alert Burt gained possession before scampering forward.

As two defenders appeared to step back, Burt dinked the ball into the path of Promise Omochere (inset) and the winger finished with aplomb.

Derry fought back to restore parity in the 34th minute in fortunate circumstances.

Kavanagh and Patrick Mceleney combined neatly, with the latter receiving the ball inside the box before Conor Levingston bumped into the Derry midfielder. Mceleney fell to the ground and referee Adriano Reale pointed to the spot.

Up stepped Will Patching and he sent James Talbot the wrong way, when tucking the ball into the corner of the net.

Four minutes from the break, Derry really should have moved into the driving seat.

A long ball from the back was superbly controlled by Jamie Mcgonigle but the striker opted for power when blasting the ball high over.

Derry approached the second half in a different frame of mind and began to dominate possession.

In the 55th minute a Patching free-kick was curled agonisingly wide from the edge of the penalty area.

Derry squandered a chance in the 66th minute when a superb pass from Patching (above) sent Mcgonigle on his way but when he worked his way past Bohs’ sub Max Murphy, Talbot blocked the shot.

Mcgonigle would have been better advised to set-up the unmarked James Akintunde.

Bohemians were then presented with a superb chance in the 75th minute when a deep cross from fullback Tyreke Wilson found the head of Omochere but his effort was saved by Maher from close range.

Another shot from Patching failed to find the target as Derry continued to force their way forward but the Bohs defence held out.

In the end Bohs sub Kris Twardek could have nicked it, but he failed to force the ball home following a deep cross from the left.