Derry City 1 Bohemians 0 Derry City maintained their excellent record over Bohemians following this bitter war of attrition at the Brandywell last night.

And the win represented Derry's fifth consecutive victory over the Dubliners and, no doubt, manager Stephen Kenny will be particularly happy at that fact.

But the win may have come at a cost as Derry lost the services of their star striker Mark Farren after just 17 minutes.

Having been sandwiched between Bohemians defenders, Stephen Rice and Jason McGuinness, referee Paul Tuite refused to award the home side a free-kick.

Derry's early second-half pressure paid off in the 49th minute when Paddy McCourt cut the ball back into the path of Stephen O'Flynn and his shot dipped over the head of Bohemians' goalkeeper Stephen O'Brien.

The home side went close to doubling their lead in the 71st minute when Kevin McHugh broke and played in Ciaran Martyn but O'Brien blocked the shot with his legs.

But Bohemians nearly drew level on the hour when a dangerous low cross by Aiden O'Keeffe was chested wide by Tony Grant.

McHugh then had a superb chance to kill the game off in the dying minutes but his effort was blocked and cleared to safety.

DERRY CITY: Forde, Deery, Hutton, Oman, McCallion; McCourt (Cash, 87), Martyn, Molloy, Brennan; O'Flynn (Beckett, 92), Farren (McHugh, 17)

BOHEMIANS: S O'Brien; Heary, Ferguson, McGuinness, Byrne (Arkins, 74), Rice, Farrelly (M O'Brien, 66), Hunt, O'Keeffe (Harkin, 62); Grant, Ward.

Referee: Paul Tuite (Dublin).