Duffy leaves it late for Derry to ramp pressure on Shels

DERRY City moved up to second place in the Premier Division thanks to Michael Duffy’s late winner at the Brandywell.

The winger came off the bench to settle a game that badly needed a spark, shooting home from close range to seal all three points at Bohemians’ expense.

James Akintunde, who scored the winner against his old team at Dalymount Park back in March, came close to giving Bohemians the lead 18 minutes in.

The former Derry striker held off Mark Connolly to get onto the end of a James Mcmanus cross, but his header came off the corner of post and bar with Brian Maher beaten.

Derry were allowing far too many crosses to get into their penalty area, and they should have fallen behind on 28 minutes with Akintunde again the dangerman.

Jordan Flores’ ball collided off a combination of Connolly and Akintunde, and the Bohs striker reacted the quickest, but he shanked his effort over the bar from close range when it seemed easier to score.

The home side finally created something of note five minutes before half-time when Daniel Kelly’s clever pass picked out Ben Doherty at the back post, but his volley across goal was just too high for Paul Mcmullan to provide the finishing touch.

This game was a slow burner which was threatening to never ignite, although Declan Mcdaid did his best to change that just past the hour mark when he tested Maher twice in the space of two minutes.

Ruaidhri Higgins made several changes in an attempt to spark his team into life, with Duffy and Sadou Diallo introduced, but still it was Bohs who had the most noteworthy chances, with Ciaran Coll producing a crucial block to deny centre-half Aboubacar Keita what looked like a certain goal 10 minutes from time.

Yet it was Derry who should have scored with just six minutes left when Will Patching wasted the best chance of the game. Adam O’reilly’s low cross bounced perfectly into the path of the City midfielder, who volleyed it first-time, and fans were off their seats celebrating before realising to their dismay that he had actually shot just wide.

But the home supporters did not have long to wait as their team made the breakthrough just 60 seconds later, Duffy breaking into the area on the byline, and although his first effort was blocked, the ball broke into his path with Kacper Chorazka grounded and he made no mistake, driving home his third goal of the season. DERRY CITY: Maher, Boyce (P Mceleney 80), Connolly (S Mceleney 45), Mcjannet, Coll, O’reilly (Todd 90), Patching, Mcmullan, Kelly (Diallo 68), Hoban, Doherty (Duffy 68).

BOHEMIANS: Chorazka, Keita, Flores, Mcdaid (Piszczek 76), Rooney (Grant 87), Akintunde, Mcmanus, Mcdonnell (Clarke 45), Miller (Connolly 59), Mills, Matheson (Kukulowicz 76).

Referee: Robert Harvey (Dublin)

Man of the Match: Adam O’reilly (Derry City) Match Rating: 6/10