Rory Patterson strikes to seal win for Derry City against Bohemians

And while the Brandywell side will be delighted to have extended their unbetean to eight league matches, they will attempt to put this performance behind them quickly.

To be fair, Derry may have bossed the ball, but they failed dismally to build on Patterson’s 13th minute strike.

Right winger, Nathan Boyle, caused the Bohs defence no shortage of problems and, on another night, the Derry lad could have bagged a hat-trick.

Indeed, Boyle had two changes during the opening 10 mintues but he failed to hit the target with his first effort, before Dean Delany saved his cross-cum-shot.

However, Derry’s persistence finally reaped dividends in the 13th minute.

Keith Ward produced a superb reverse pass which sent Barry McNamee scampering clear.

However, the midfielder appeared to loose his footballing when challenged by the advancing keeper but when the ball broke into the path of Rory Patterson he lashed it home for his sixth league strike of the season from the angle.

Kurtis Byrne ballooned an effort over the Derry cross bar in the 19th minute and the same player failed to control the ball on the half hour when well placed inside the danger area.

Derry hit back with Patterson failing to divert Boyle’s cross while Delany did well to punch a thunderous drive from Boyle of his defence in the 40th minute.

Bohemians went close to equalising during injury time but Ger Doherty did well to block Eoin Wearen’s fierce shot before the ball was whipped to safety.

After the break Derry again dominated but they failed to seriously test Delany while Bohs’ lack of a cutting edge in the final third.

Derry City - G. Doherty; Vemmelund, McBride, McClean, McDermott; McCormack, McEneff; Boyle (Curtis, 83), McNamee, Ward (R. Doherty, 90); Patterson.

Bohemians - Delany; D. Byrne, Prendergast, Mulcahy, Fitzgerald; Kavanagh, Lopes, Wearen, Ben Mohamed (Kelly, 70); Buckley, K. Byrne.

Referee - P. Tuite (Dublin).