Ten man Derry City held by Bohemians at Dalymount

TEN MAN Derry City stretched their unbeaten run to five matches after Bohemians fought back to earn a point at Dalymount Park.

James Olayinka opened his Derry account with a 39th minute strike which crept under the body of an apologetic Kacper Chorazka.

Alan Reynolds was booed off the pitch at the interval as the Dubliners were staring into a fourth straight defeat but the introduction of Ross Tierney at the break changed the game.

The energetic midfielder found himself through on goal moments after the second half kicked off but Carl Winchester produced a brilliant last-ditch tackle to deny him.

That was the final action for City's stand-in skipper who went off with an injury and Bohs made the most of it as Tiernan Lynch reorganised his side.

Ex-Derry striker Colm Whelan slotted through to Markuss Strods who fired past Eddie Beach for the equaliser on 52 minutes.

Brandon Fleming saw his shot saved by Chorazka before Adam O'Reilly was shown a second yellow card by referee Rob Harvey for a robust challenge on Adam McDonnell with seven minutes to go.

There was controversy 60 seconds later when Patrick Hickey remained on the pitch after catching a long ball over the top as Dipo Akinyemi was in behind the Bohs defence. Sam Todd was covering but the Derry players were furious the Bohs defender was just cautioned by the official.

It was honours even in the end as Derry stretched their unbeaten run and Bohs wait for a win goes to eight games as the Dubliners remain three poinst ahead of the Candy Stripes but move into third.

Michael Duffy returned to the squad for the first time since sustaining a quad injury during the 2-2 draw with Drogheda United at Brandywell on March 20th.

The City skipper was named on a strong-looking bench as Lynch opted to go with the same starting eleven that defeated Shamrock Rovers at Celtic Park last weekend.

Alan Reynolds made two changes from the team defeated by St Pat's at Richmond Park with ex-Derry striker Colm Whelan and Niall Morahan replaced Adam McDonnell and Ross Tierney.

Derry threatened first two minutes after kick-off when Cotter's long throw-in was flicked on and Olayinka's dipping strike on the volley went wide of the target.

Carl Winchester tried his luck from distance but his strike sailed over the bar before Dawson Devoy - scorer of the winning goal in this reverse fixture back in Feburary - forced Beach into making a comfortable save with an effort from just outside the box.

Derry broke the deaclock on 39 minuites when Markey who played the ball over the head of Todd who barged the Dubliner to the ground. The referee waved play on and O'Reilly did briliantly to pick out Olayinka in space inside the box. The ex-Arsneal man took a touch before firing past Chorazka for his first Derry goal since his close season move from Waterford.

Moments later Derry were in behind the Bohs defence again and Clarke and Markey both had shots inside the box charged down. The ball broke to Winchester and his ferocious strike appeared to strike the hand of Todd but the referee signalled for a corner kick despite penalty claims from the stand-in City skipper.

It was a solid away display from Derry who went into the break deservedly ahead by that Olayinka goal.

Reynolds made a change at the break as Tierney replaced Douglas James-Taylor and the diminutive midfielder made an instant impact.

Tierney found himself racing toward goal and neatly took it past Jamie Stott with a deft touch but just as he was preparing to pull the trigger, Winchester did brilliantly to deny him with a well-timed tackle.

That was the Belfast man's final contribution as he appeared to tweak his hamstring and Cameron Dummigan replaced him.

Bohs were back on level terms on 52 minutes when Tierney flicked it on and Whelan slotted the ball through to Strods who fired into the far corner from 12 yards.

At the other end Chorazka fumbled a cross from O'Reilly and it fell to Clarke eight yards from goal. The Bohs keeper managed toget a touch to it but it fell to Brandon Fleming whose shot was parried away by the Polish keeper.

It was end-to-end and Tierney was again in the thick of the action as his goalbound shot struck the back of Whelan and fortunately for Derry went behind for a goal kick.

Derry were down to 10 men on 83 minutes when O'Reilly was shown a second yellow card for a robust challenge on Bohs sub Alan McDonnell.

Moments later, Bohemians were fortunate to keep 11 men on the pitch when Hickey bizarrely caught the ball when Akimyemi had raced in behind him. However, the match official flashed a yellow card to the defender much to the dismay of the Derry players.

From the resultant free-kick Duffy screwed his 25 yard strike wide of the target.

Five minutes stoppage time was added and from a corner McClean headed clear but it fell to Deboy in space just inside the penalty area and he volleyed narrowly over.

Bohs: Chorazka; Morahan (McDonnell 76), Todd, Hickey, Strods (Parsons 87); Mullen (Byrne 76), Power (Harpur 86) Devoy, Rooney; James-Taylor (Tierney h-t), Whelan.

Derry City: Beach; Cotter, Stott, McClean, Fleing; Markey (Doherty 77), O'Reilly, Winchester (Dummigan 51), Olayinka (Duffy 67); Clarke; Thomas (Akinyeim 67).

Referee - Rob Harvey [Dublin].