Clinical Curtis lifts the gloom for Candy stripes
WHATEVER about the rest of the country, the temperature rose last night as far as Derry City’s players and supporters were concerned as they completed a successful cross-border raid.
The 2018 season to date has been a tough one for the Candystripes as they lost their opening games and were unable to play, or train, in their new-look Brandywell home, which is now due to open for business on Friday.
And in the chilly confines of Dalymount Park last night they needed wit and grit to get their 1-0 win, with key moments coming in the second half when Ronan Curtis scored from a set-piece, while late on Ger Doherty saved a penalty from Bohemians forward Eoghan Stokes.
Derry have been low on points, goals and confidence so far this season and Bohs had the initiative from early on last night.
They had a chance to go in front after 13 minutes when a good ball by left-back Darragh Leahy fell for Keith Ward, but Niall Logue was there to block the way.
Two minutes later Ward tried his luck with a free-kick but was off target.
Derry had been penned in for long spells but they found a spark on 28 minutes and when Ronan Curtis bore down on the Bohemians goal Bohs, the home side needed, and got, a superb save from Shane Supple.
At the other end Derry’s netminder Gerard Doherty pulled off an equally impressive save to deny Stokes.
With Dinny Corcoran missing from their side Bohs lacked a key part of their attacking threat.
Derry had managed to cope with the bits and pieces that Bohs had thrown at them and as the game wore on the away side seemed to gain confidence.
Rory Patterson should really have scored on 55 minutes when a good ball by Rory Hale set him up, but the former Northern Ireland international blazed wide.
But in the 61st minute City were in front as Bohemians failed to deal with a dangerous corner from Nicky Low, and the ball fell to Curtis and the finish was clinical.
With little inspiration on the field, Bohemians boss Keith Long looked to his bench, bringing on JJ Lunney and debutant Dylan Watts but the threat was still lacking from the home side, who had defeated Shamrock Rovers on the opening night before drawing with Limerik at the weekend.
With five minutes left Bohs were given a lifeline when Conor McDermott’s foul on Kevin Devaney yielded a penalty but Doherty’s experience saw him save the effort from Stokes. Derry almost nicked a second when Ben Doherty struck the bar in injury time.