Soccer:Bohemians 0; Derry City 3
DERRY CITY striker Eamon Zayed issued a statement of intent at the Brandywell last night when netting two of his side’s goals in what was a deserved, yet flattering victory over Bohemians.
Indeed, Zayed, at the centre of a racial abuse row during last Monday’s game against Shamrock Rovers, was regularly applauded during the game and he received a standing ovation when substituted during the final minutes.
And while the league’s leading striker extended his goal tally to 14, the lively James McClean played no small part in this win having fashioned two of the three goals.
In the 28th minute, following a swift move from defence, Northern Ireland under-21 international McClean drilled a low cross into the danger area where the alert Gareth McGlynn got the all-important touch when finding the net from close range.
Bohemians winger Steven Hurley brought the best out of Derry goalkeeper Gerard Doherty in the 42nd minute, but it was the home side who doubled their lead one minute before the break.
Zayed received possession 30 yards from goal and with McGlynn breaking to his left, the striker let fly with the ball squeezing inside the far post with goalkeeper Barry Murphy caught out.
The home side started the second half on the front foot with Zayed flashing another shot agonisingly wide in the 50th minute as Bohemians huffed and puffed to get back into their stride.
Five minutes later Bohemians hitman, Christy Fagan, flashed a free-kick wide of the target while Keith Buckley forced Doherty into a fine save with a long-range effort.
In the 63rd minute a superb ball from Derry’s Danny Lafferty found Zayed inside the penalty area but the in-form striker ballooned his effort high over the crossbar.
But the home side secured the points in the 83rd minute when Zayed netted his second much to the delight of the home attendance.
Again it was the superb McClean who emerged the architect, having left both Owen Heary and Christopher Forrester in his wake before presenting Zayed with his 14th strike of the season at the back post.
Indeed, McClean went close to making it four in the latter minutes but he failed to direct McGlynn’s curling cross at the target.
The three points moves Derry above Bray Wanderers into third spot in the table, while Bohemians remain in sixth, four points behind Sligo Rovers.
DERRY CITY: Doherty; Molloy (McCallion, 65), Greacen, S. McEleney, Lafferty; McGlynn, Higgins, Deery, McClean; P. McEleney (Harkin, 70 mins), Zayed (McDaid, 90 mins).
BOHEMIANS: Murphy; Heary, Burns, Price, Rossiter; Buckley (Fowler, 73 mins), Cronin, Bayly, Hurley (Forrester, 65 mins); Fagan (Keely, 86 mins), Traynor.
Referee: R D McKeown (Dublin).
