Bohemians remain in third place in the race for European football next season as they earned a hard-fought point against Derry City at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on Friday night. City manager Declan Devine said before the fixture that it w
Bohemians remain in third place in the race for European football next season as they earned a hard-fought point against Derry City at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on Friday night.
City manager Declan Devine said before the fixture that it was club's biggest game of the season, but Derry's lacklustre performance cost them in a highly anticipated night.
From the onset, Devine's outfit started at a ferocious pace and they rarely relented during the 90 minutes - but the final killer pass went begging all evening.
But on the Lone Moor Road, they should have taken the lead after 21 minutes when Eoin Toal played a superb deft pass through the Bohemians ranks to David Parkhouse, but the striker couldn't divert from close range.
However, Bohemians created their own luck for large periods in the opening half as they fashioned a couple of promising moments just prior to the breakthrough - but they failed to take them.
Shortly after the break, Ciaron Harkin almost gave the home side the lead when his neat bicycle kick was deflected just beyond the post for a fruitless corner kick.
Devine's side, who dominated possession for large periods, were missing the final pass in the final third as they struggled to unlock the Bohs defence.
And for all of City's dominance, it should have been Keith Long's outfit that seized the lead when Andre Weight slipped in Luke Wade Slater. However, the 21-year-old snatched at the effort and drove it well over the crossbar for a goal kick - golden chance for the Dublin side and by Long's reaction, he knew it.
By the 70 minute mark, Derry City had regained control but Barry McNamee couldn't divert beyond James Tablot as his low-driven effort when straight into the arms of the Gypsies goalkeeper.
City made a final push in the closing stages with other chances presenting themselves for the Foyelside team, but a draw was a fair reflection on the balance of play.
